Legends of Amacia Return of the Beowulf

Fall of the West

Fifty minutes after leaving the portal chamber with Joe and Hammond, Jerry called Dan on his communicator. “Dan, it’s happening,” he reported urgently. “Missiles have been launched against America. You may want to monitor the news services. Oh, God have mercy; the east coast cities are gone. There are also mushroom clouds over the ICBM bases. It’s happening, Dan!”

“Did the US launch any missiles?” Dan asked insistently.

“Not from the missile bases,” Jerry answered. “They were hit first without warning by the Russian sub launched missiles.”

“What about the US subs? Did they get off any missiles?” Dan inquired, picking up the pace as he headed to the communications center.

“Oh, shit,” Jerry replied in horror, “I’m seeing mass sub launches from the North Pacific, Arctic, Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean. It appears these missiles are heading for Russia and China. This is it. The world really is going to burn now!”

“Calm down,” Dan replied solemnly into his communicator. “We knew this was coming. Are you seeing any movement indicating a land invasion of the US mainland yet?”

“Not yet,” Jerry answered. “You suppose they’ll wait until the blasts clear before invading?”

“Most likely,” Dan stated. “I’ll see what’s coming across the news services. Did they start with an EMP strike over Nebraska?”

“They did,” Jerry stated. “That was the first explosion I saw with the portal hologram. Now, every major city from Boston to Miami is burning under those nuclear clouds. Shit, now the west coast is burning too. Every city from Seattle to the Mexican border has mushroom clouds over them. All those people...gone. It makes me sick to my stomach.”

“Me too,” Dan agreed softly. “But remember what Brother Paul said. The Lord’s people who are where He wants them will not be touched. Still, I’m inclined to say a prayer for those wicked souls who have burned for their sin. May the Lord have mercy on their souls.”

“Amen,” Jerry answered, his tone betraying his horror. “God, I hope Hannibal, Selina, Harry, and Nathanael are all right.”

“They’re okay,” Dan reassured, “Trust the Lord. We will see them again. I’m sure of it. Hannibal’s job isn’t finished yet. Now, you keep a close eye on what’s happening in America. You’re our witness. Let me know the moment they invade.”

“You got it,” Jerry stated grimly, “Though, I’d rather not watch this calamity in real time. It’s literally making me sick.”

“I know,” Dan answered as he entered the communications center. “Just hang in there. I’ll see what the news is saying about it, and then come to the portal chamber.”

“I appreciate that,” Jerry stated softly. “Whoa, the US sub missiles are being shot down by Russian and Chinese anti-missile batteries and their orbital particle beam platforms.” He paused and then said in horror, “But it didn’t stop all of them. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, and several other cities have been hit. I’m seeing mushroom clouds sprouting over western Russia, though I’m not seeing as many as I’m seeing on the US mainland. This is insane! These weapons will poison the planet for thousands of years. Don’t they realize that?”

“They do,” Dan answered grimly, “But they’re all crazy, most likely possessed of demons who want this world burned to ashes. However, we must have faith. This insanity apparently falls within the Lord’s will, though I can hardly see how. Have faith and don’t be dismayed at what you’re seeing. Are you recording these events with the portal?”

“Yes,” Jerry admitted. “It is being recorded, as horrendous and evil as it is. Please, don’t take too long in coming. I’m not sure how long I can watch this and not lose my lunch.”

“I’ll send Chris and Gus to back you up right now,” Dan stated. “At least that way you won’t be there by yourself watching it.”

“I appreciate that,” Jerry answered gratefully. “I’d rather not be alone seeing this.”

“I understand,” Dan stated. “Chris and Gus will be there in a few minutes. Until then, keep watch, and let me know the moment they send their troops in.”

“Okay,” Jerry stated. “Let me know what the propaganda outlets are saying about this. I’m curious to see how they’re going to spin this travesty.”

“I will,” Dan assured. “I’m sure they’re going to do something to spin it, just like what the President with his ultimatum. Just keep watch. Someone has to chronicle this appalling event. I’m going to send Chris and Gus over now.”

“Thanks, Dan,” Jerry replied gratefully, closing his channel to Dan.

“This is getting crazier and crazier,” Dan stated, calling Chris and Gus with his communicator sending them to assist Jerry. Once he did that, he found his chair at the main computer, sitting down with a labored sigh. Tuning in the short-wave bands, he scanned the few remaining broadcasts for news of the attack. He quickly discovered all stations broadcasting from the US were eerily silent. All TV, radio, and satellite broadcasts were down. However, the foreign news services not based in the US continued to operate as normally as a world war would allow them. Dan settled on the British News Service and listened intently to the reports from North Korea. He thought it strange they didn’t say anything about the nuclear sacking of the US. At 3:00pm, Brother Paul walked into the communications center. “I just came from the portal chamber,” he said grimly. “Jerry is having a hard time with what’s going on so I got Chris and Gus to take over. I told Jerry to go help in the Library to get his mind off what’s happening in the US.”

“Good call,” Dan replied. “Jerry’s a good man, but isn’t hardened to such violence like I am. He admitted what he was seeing was making him sick. I suppose it would make any sane man ill to see that.”

“True,” Paul agreed as he sat down in a chair next to Dan, “The world hasn’t seen this level of death since the Deluge. However, we must remember this is the Lord’s will. He will not be mocked, and that’s what the US and its President has done. They’ve mocked and defied Him in their rebellion. Now, they’re paying the price with their blood. By the way, what’s the word coming from the news services? Are they admitting to this attack yet?”

“Not yet,” Dan stated. “But America is dead silent. Every form of communication, including the internet, from the US is down...only static. I don’t know if this is from the jamming or whether it’s from the nuking of the country. Knowing nukes have been used en mass in America, I’d wager the blackout is from the nukes. However, word from abroad says the US is losing its shirt in Korea. They have not only lost the south, but are being driven into the sea by the North Koreans backed by the Chinese. Because of the North Korean’s advanced defenses, the US can’t get as close as it wanted. Three more ships were lost in the engagements with the Russian navy here in the last few hours.”

Brother Paul nodded as a special bulletin came across the short-wave radio uplink. “Shhh. Something’s going on,” Paul hissed. “Maybe they’re fixing to address the attack.”

“Maybe,” Dan replied.

As they became quiet, the announcer began to speak, saying, “This is Ron Wells with the British News Service with a special report live from Buckingham Palace. The Prime Minister and the top leaders of the British government are now meeting with the Queen and the Lord Mayor. No one seems to know what is going on, just that officials from the Prime Minister’s office has called all media outlets here for a statement. We are now standing in the stateroom and from what we’ve been able to gather, the confidential meeting is taking place in the throne room just through the door to my left. Wait...the doors are opening. It is the Prime Minister, the Lord Mayor, and the Queen. The Prime Minister is approaching the podium. None of them look happy. The Prime Minister is fixing to speak.”

The Prime Minister of England stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, peoples of the United Kingdom and the world, we are in a crisis,” he declared, “As you no doubt know, the American War on Terror has escalated far beyond what was intended. The American Government has acted brashly and irresponsibly in dealing with Korea and several other conflicts it has engaged in. However, when the terrorists exploded a Russian nuclear weapon inside the US Capitol, we pledged our full support to the remaining members of the US government. Atrocities of this magnitude should bring together the whole world to fight this scourge of radical nationalism, but it hasn’t. It’s emboldened the enemies of the world peace that wish to plunge us into an unending war.”

The Prime Minister paused for a moment, scanning the media and cameras as if working up the courage to reveal something. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have just received word that all contact has been lost with Washington,” he stated grimly, “In fact, all contact has been lost to all of the United States. All radio, TV, satellite, and internet communication ceased ninety minutes ago. Our intelligence services have verified by satellite and human surveillance that the United States has been attacked en mass with nuclear weapons. Every major city and military installation has been hit, including New York, Washington, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, by a coordinated strike from submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missiles from Russian attack subs just off the east and west coasts of America and Russian ICBMs, taking out critical US infrastructure and defense facilities.

“The President of the United States himself has disappeared somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean east of Bermuda. According to our intelligence services, the Russian government is not acting alone. The Chinese are with them as well as the North Koreans and the Muslim Alliance, especially Syria, Iran, India, and Egypt. This is an unprovoked sneak attack that caught us completely by surprise. We shall not let this go unchallenged. Those that attacked the United States are now considered rogue nations with which we are now in a defacto state of war with. England will do all that it can to bring these traitorous thugs and bandits to justice. We....” The feed suddenly sizzled and went dead, leaving only static on the speakers.

Right after it happened, Chris called from the portal chamber. “Dan, this is Chris,” he announced. “We just monitored a high-altitude nuclear detonation over England. The EMP has shut down everything in England.”

“We know,” Dan stated, “Paul and I were listening to the British Prime Minister on the shortwave uplink when it went dead. He was declaring war on the Russians and Chinese when he was shut down.”

“I see,” Chris answered stoically. “I just thought you’d like to know what happened. I’ll keep monitoring things. Since they’ve hit England with an EMP, they may actually nuke it too since they’re apparently the only ones left supporting that lunatic US President. We need to know if they’re going to expand that war to Europe.”

“Do that,” Dan ordered, “Keep me informed.”

“Got it,” Chris answered, going silent on the other end of the communicator.

“Boy, this is getting really messy,” Paul admitted. “What’s the rest of Europe going to do now?”

“They’re going to leave England to its fate,” Dan stated bluntly. “If you will recall, the European Union, led by France and Germany turned against the US when the President turned it into a Nazi-style police state after that calamitous meteor storm a few months ago. When he tried to force his will not just on the people of US, but on the rest of the world with at damnable Orwellian War on Terror, everyone in Europe except for the English government ruled by the City in London bailed on them, expelling all US diplomats, civilians, and military personnel. From what Hannibal’s operatives who are still embedded in these countries told us, the countries of the European Union finally figured out the US President was playing them for chumps and Russia was not the real enemy. Shoot, even Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland left England’s United Kingdom with the economic and military assistance of France and Germany. Even England’s citizens demanded the government reject and denounce the US government. The English government has stood as the only ally of the US. Now, they’ve been neutralized with an EMP attack to keep them from responding, not that they had any say in the world at this point. All that’s left is whether the Russians will destroy England as it’s doing to America now. This is the final act for the Masters of the Universe who rule America and England. It’s over, and there’s not a damned thing they can do about it.”

“You’re so right,” Paul agreed. “I honestly didn’t know the other European governments had turned on the US. Do you know if they made arrangements with Russia?”

“Our operatives who are still alive say they did,” Dan stated. “The first thing they did was to remove the Ukrainian puppets of the US in Kiev and stop the war with the pro-Russian separatists. Then they pulled their troops back from the border with Russia. Russia seems to have reciprocated by stopping their major maneuvers at the border, and promised to provide a stable gold-backed currency the Europeans could use to replace the Dollar. As a good-will gesture, the Russians turn the oil and gas tap back on to Europe. However, with things the way they are now, I’m not sure how much we can believe the reports. We’ll just have to watch and see.”

“That we will,” Paul agreed. “But there’s one thing that’s for certain. The West has fallen. Mystery Babylon is coming down. America’s soul has been required just as Gabriel said. This is the proof. The Lord has turned America into a hell. Now all that is left is Israel because they have forgotten him too. But their hell is not just yet. The Man of Sin must step forward first before they get their full measure.”

Dan sighed, saying, “We must pray fervently for the remnant in America. They need our prayers now more than ever before, just as Hannibal needs our prayers. I just wish we could communicate with him somehow to let him know what’s happening up here.”

“Me too,” Paul stated. “But we must have faith. I’m sure the Lord will let Hannibal know somehow what’s going on up here. After all, the Rising is getting close.”

“Gabriel didn’t tell you exactly when it would happen, did he?” Dan asked.

“Nope,” Paul answered. “But he did say the Teacher could solve the problem with our celestial mechanics models. Has anyone been searching the Teacher for that answer?”

“No,” Dan stated. “None of us have what it takes to operate the Teacher. However, we have found the section on celestial mechanics and the electric universe in the Library, so it should only be a matter of time before we find the missing piece to our model.”

“I would suggest making it a priority,” Paul insisted. “Gabriel insinuated our model may not be that far off, so I’m betting we’re definitely within a month of the Rising. The quicker we fix the model and find the exact date, the sooner I can scream the warnings about it from the housetops. To be honest, my instinct is telling us we may have as little as three weeks before this things explodes and reshapes the planet.”

“Hmmm,” Dan murmured. “It seems we may be sensing the same thing. For the last week, I’ve felt deep in my soul that a clock was ticking down to something big; something bigger than nuclear war. The Rising may be it. When I ponder this ominous feeling, and it is ominous, the figure of three weeks keeps coming up. I don’t know, but I can’t ignore it now...not after what you said this morning. Gabriel just doesn’t bring news unless it’s big. When they nuked America at the time Gabriel told you, I knew our time is short. I’ll double the people working on the volumes about celestial mechanics. We will get that model fixed so the Rising won’t sneak up on us.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Paul stated. “In the meantime, you should keep monitoring the airwaves. I suspect more details will eventually trickle in.”

Dan nodded with a grunt, and Paul left. Dan scanned the airwaves until he found an English broadcast out of France that was reporting on the fall of America.