The Long Road

Chapter 1

 The year is 2075 and the United States has finally found peace again for the first time for thirty years. It's hard to imagine back before this terrible war which has ravaged this country yet I do, I was a fresh-faced twenty-two-year-old lieutenant with visions of my swift victories as I swept across the enemy as General George Patton did in France during the Second World War. I have now come to understand that war is not what Patton made it seem but rather what General Sherman stated so bluntly in our Civil War, "War is Hell."

Thinking back to before this war life was so much more simple, you were trying to find that perfect girl and all the drama that came with that, you stressed your way through your job or school but were safe at the end of the day, and most of importantly at the end of each day you had no fear of the next day living in a world virtually free from any real danger. A stark contrast to the hell which I was submitted to that cold December day in which thrust the next thirty years of my life going from trying to find that perfect girl, to that perfect soldier, from that "stress" of trying to get through a day of work, to trying not to get your head blown clean off, and finally going from comfort to thirty years of sleep deprivation, discomfort, and hunger.

That cold December day was the life changer in my early military career, waking up that morning to a frantic sergeant who was so excited about the crisis he found it difficult to explain to me what the hell was going on. After calming him down, I got the answer out of him he stammered with a terrified look on his face "All communications with the rest of the company have gone dead sir!" He stammered quickly. I looked at him with a confused and agitated look "Did this really demand my attention this early in the morning." I replied. "Sir, it's not that communications with the rest of the company have gone down but, rather it's the fact that all electronics are all unresponsive, this is anything from a flashlight to well anything that needs electricity." Again I looked at him with a certain annoyance. It was 5:30 in the morning and this sergeant thought it pertinent to wake me up just because a radio and a flashlight hadn't been working. We had been in the field for two weeks up in the freezing cold of Montana working through winter warfare, in mountainous terrain. Things were always are breaking or dying on us as my platoon conducted reconnaissance of the local area in the ongoing war games so I couldn't understand what the issue was. "What the hell do you want me to do about it?" I replied sternly. The sergeant looked at me blankly and finally replied, "Sir, the concern was the fact that the radio and the flashlight both failed at the exact same time as each other and furthermore sir battalion's radios went out at the same time as well as, Regimental's, and Brigade's." After stating this, he paused and then silently continued "There were incoming reports before this that the threat in the Pacific had escalated, and this is believed to be an attack." I looked at him for a second then moved to get out of my sleeping bag. "Well, sergeant it looks like we might have an issue after all. Perhaps a runner will be sent soon to inform us on what exactly is occurring. Till then rouse the men and get them ready to hump it back to the rest of Mike Company." The sergeant nodded and said "Right away Lieutenant Winston." He turned and began to get the men ready to move and I watched him as he diligently went about his work. Shortly, after 6:00 an MRAP approached our position.

As the MRAP pulled up I recognized the company XO in the passenger seat, First Lieutenant Joshua Digger. First Lieutenant Joshua Digger was a twenty- five-year-old man who stood around five foot six inches, and generally had joke or two ready to go, this time however he had a grave look on his face. I waited for the vehicle to come to a halt and I quickly ran to greet him. "Good morning sir! I hear we are having issues with communications hope it's nothing serious." I said hopefully. He countered with an uncharacteristic grave look and began "Things are not looking good Winston, reports came in around 4:50 this morning concerning the approach of Chinese warships towards Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific naval bases. All of which went dead silent shortly after sending their reports of Chinese activity. Then at 5:10 all communications as well as all electronics went dead. We have no further information, war games are being postponed and all units are ordered to return to their regiments effective immediately." I stood there looking at him finally I spoke, "Do you think they Chinese have launched some sort of attack?" "It appears so there is very little information on where and what exactly could be hit. It can be assumed though they have landed on mainland US due to their increased naval size over the years and to make things worse the communication issues are likely the result of some sort of EMP or similar device capable of such an attack. Not much could stop them from doing such a thing nowadays." He said gravely. "For now, though pack up and get back to the company." He continued then nodded and got back into the MRAP. Before closing the door, he turned "Hopefully Winston this is all just a drill meant to mess with our damn heads. If not this is going to be a long road till this was will be over." He then shut the door and pulled away quickly. I turned to check the platoons status.

"Sergeant, are we all ready to go?" Sergeant Davis turned and nodded "Sir, everyone is ready to head out sounds like a long day ahead of us." Davis was a twenty-seven-year-old who enlisted straight out of high school. Due to the small size of the Marine Corps through years of military downsizing, it kept the pool for promotions small forcing him with only three stripes rather than the many more that he would have had back in the early 2000's for service like his. "Sergeant assemble the men I want to speak to them. I don't think any of them know much about what is happening." Sergeant Davis barked a few orders and the men grumbled their way over. "The lieutenant would like to speak to y'all about what is happening." Stepping forward, I thanked the sergeant for getting the men ready and commenced speaking "Men, I know the last few days have been tiring and I doubt the last thing you want is a 10-mile hike back to Mike Company in all this snow. That said this morning reports came in hinting towards a possible attack on our Pacific naval stations including Hawaii. It is possible that landings on the West Coast have occurred as well as an EMP attack that has disabled many of our radio communications. It's possible that this is all just a drill to see how ready we are for emergencies but, it can just be as likely this is the real deal. If this is the case it might be a long time before any of us go home." I sighed and continued "It is also possible that we might have to revert to guerrilla warfare and if so this could drag this war on for a long time. We have a long road ahead of us if so and I expect all of you to do your duty on this road we are embarking on." I finished and felt rather uninspiring in my speech. I turned to Sergeant Davis and whispered, "Get the men moving I will be the point man on this one." He nodded and began his orders as I took the lead in the column.

After marching for most of the day through the deep snow, we arrived at Mike Companies headquarters and subsequently the rest of the regiment. After ensuring my platoon had found an adequate place to camp out, I moved to company headquarters. Captain Winslow stood waiting for me at the entrance to the companies headquarters tent. Winslow was a tall man standing around six foot nine, he wore a constant expression of annoyance and was never too unwilling to launch a reprimand against his underlings. All that said he was also fair in his actions and took careful care of the men placed in his charge. Approaching him I set my shoulders back and stood firmly saying "Good evening sir, second platoon reporting in." He nodded and said, "Welcome back lieutenant hope the march went well. I hope you men are getting some rest." he said sternly "They are sir, may I ask into the current situation?" He looked at me with his usual look of annoyance "The current situation is attempting to gain communications with the Pentagon through a radio meant for this exact situation." He paused then continued " When we do however every officer in the regiment is due to report into the Colonel's tent for the orders when the arrive." He finished coldly. Then he looked down at his boots and looked back up with a look of worry "Off the record lieutenant it's all these damn civilian's fault for what might be occurring. They have continually undermined this countries military claiming we are unneeded and that we only bring war. If this is real I wonder how many of those "smart" college kids really wish there were more of us "baby killers" at sea or on land here ready to defend us." He paused with frustration on his face then angrily continued "They love us when we are needed when we are here to protect their weak asses but, soon forget our sacrifice when the going gets tough. I fear these orders will only be that of surrender. Your average civvies don't like the idea of death or killing. There will be a white flag lieutenant and if there is this whole command will not accept that. We will fight till every one of us is dead orders from the colonel. If orders of surrender come through none of it will reach the ears of the enlisted. Is that understood lieutenant?" he ended harshly. "Aye, sir," I said loyally. At this moment, the Colonel's aide approached and foolishly saluted Captain Winslow then spoke "Sir, the colonel is ready to see all officers now. Winslow thanked the aide and then nodded "Let's go get our order's lieutenant."