Children Of Fiends - Part 2 A Nation By Another Name: An Of Sudden Origin Novella by C. Chase Harwood Read Free Book Online

just as quickly washed away by the certainty that his DNA would match the sloppiness with the girl. Fool, he thought. Arrogant fool. He had felt less cornered as he fled the Fiend onslaught ten years before.  
    He was barely able to pay attention at the Council morning meeting, his eyes gazing instead at the vistas that made up the view and the rather dark looking storm system that seemed to be approaching from the Northeast. It wasn’t until Major Thompson stood up and started talking about a Sentinel scout that had reported on human activity in Richmond that Plimpton’s ears perked up. The major was answering Dietrich Pelham’s query saying, “Yes councilor, there were devil children with them. The obvious conclusion is that they are the same group that confronted the Eagle.”
    Ashton was an impatient man. He had always demanded quick results. More than anyone on the Council, he had been the architect of the revitalization of the capital and The Shore in general. He was like a weight on everyone’s shoulders, but no one could deny that he got results. The former bank exec, asked, “And?”
    Major Thompson offered a calm smile and continued, “Believe it or not, they managed to get an old locomotive up and running. Piled inside they did and headed south. The Sentinel followed until it came to the edge of its operational range.”
    “So what does that tell us, Major?” asked Ashton.
    “I couldn’t speculate, Lawrence. Beyond the notion that they are making a land exploration of the South. The devils? We know what they are capable of. Perhaps it’s like bringing friendly Indians along to act as a go between.”
    “Like Sacajawea,” offered Senator Brown. She smiled slightly at the clever connection and her proud knowledge of basic American history. “You know, the Indian woman who help guide Lewis and Clark.”
    “We all know who Sacajawea was, Paula,” said Martha Kincaid testily, while thinking for the thousandth time that Brown’s ability to state the obvious and then speak in platitudes had either been a product of Washington’s idiot factory or that perhaps it was just idiots like Brown who had run the place. Either way she was over the woman whom she had once run and won against for state senator, thank you very much.
    “Can we focus on the matter at hand?” asked Ashton who was so over the nonsense between these two women that he was ready to hurl them both off the balcony. “Colonel, what of the Air Force?”
    “We are prepping the long range drone as we speak, Mr. Ashton.” Colonel Quale leaned back in his chair to appear nonchalant. In reality he was a bundle of nerves. They only had the one long-range reconnaissance drone and the precious fuel that was reserved for it was in ever shorter supply. Nevertheless, the mission was clearly necessary so the fuel would be used. The camera system was always acting up – but he’d be damned if he give these bastards the satisfaction of knowing it. The Air Force was infallible.
    “And the fuel for the drone?” asked Dietrich Pelham, as though reading the colonel’s mind. “Is it really necessary that we use such precious stuff for God only knows what? Should it not be reserved for our defense?”
    “If I may?” Offered Major Thompson. “We have never seen evidence of our Northern neighbors exploring beyond their borders. They are now in our sphere of influence. We would be remiss to not find out what they are up to.”
    Plimpton had an epiphany: a mission to follow the interlopers. Councilman Niles Plimpton, founding member and savior of The Shore, would make the brave sacrifice to lead such a mission. His country was now a trap that he could not escape by foot, horse or even plane. He hated the nation to the North; had built his state in defiance of nearly everything that the disconnected mess of Federalism stood for. Running north was not an option. A mission of discovery in defense of his nation was just what he needed to put Constable