"Texas Wildfire" - Chapter 8

Texas Wildfire

Chapter 8

By Dwayne MacInnes

"So now our Marxist president has not been in office for more than two months and he already has a spending bill that will explode the deficit to new heights," Flash spat incredulously into his microphone. "His reasoning is that we need to get people back to work and he plans on doing it with our tax dollars! Is there any reason why the New Tea Party movements around the country are holding protests?

"Just look at this 'New Deal' type of program…in the deserts of Arizona and here in New Mexico, Ramirez is paying people to build solar generation plants. Is that where we should be shoveling our tax dollars? The government is paying people to work; this smacks a bit of socialism doesn’t it. Hell, this is full-blown communism. It looks like Hugo Chavez Ramirez is really Che Guevera Ramirez."

Flash Limbeck was now in full rant. His loyal listeners loved it when Flash skewered liberals with his verbal barbs. "Look here folks," Flash continued. "It looks like even former Vice President Watson will be at the Killeen NTTP rally tomorrow as a guest of Governor Tucker. I urge any of my loyal fans, if you can, to head on down to Killeen to witness this event. If you cannot make it at least attend one of the other rallies across the country."

* * * * *

Mayor Warren Locke and Police Chief Gerald Mills surveyed the growing crowd gathering around city hall. Locke frowned as he noticed that there were very few police officers around to help keep the situation under control.

Mayor Locke glanced at Chief Mills with great concern on his face. Antigovernment protesters were currently overrunning the city of Killeen. The police chief was wearing the standard riot gear like the other officers in the street. The law officers stood out in their black armor against the crowd of protesters in their civilian clothes. This fact only highlighted how seriously outnumbered the law enforcement officers were.

"Where are your officers, Chief?" Locke asked.

"Mayor," Mills started to say.

Governor Tucker began speaking to the large crowd of angry people. Some of the protesters were holding signs of Ramirez with a Hitler mustache or wearing a Fidel Castro beard and hat.

"Over 70% of the law enforcement officers of Killeen belong to the Oath Keepers of Texas," he Mills continued. "Most of my men and women called in sick or did not bother to even show up for work today.

"It is worse at the Sheriff's Department. The sheriff did not bother to show up; I have a desk sergeant with a handful of deputies helping us out."

"Everyone got the damn blue flu, eh. Things could get pretty ugly if we don't get adequate crowd control," Locke stated frantically.

"I have every available officer assembled. I've called in the reserves I even have the desk staff getting into riot gear just in case," Chief Mills replied as calmly as he could to the mayor. "I've asked for help from the Texas Rangers and the Highway Patrol. I have even pleaded with the Governor for help from the National Guard."

"I would not expect any help from him!" spat Locke. "He would love to have the crowd break into a riot and bring about a national incident with Fort Hood. Then he would have everyone eating out of his hands when he finally did call out the guard."

"The crowd is still peaceful. Maybe this will be nothing more than another rally," Mills said wishfully. "You know I have only a few officers and some Explorer Scouts who are interested in law enforcement watching the station. If things hit the fan we are in it deep."

Governor Tucker's voice broke over the crowd, "…and it is the right of Texas to secede from the United States anytime it wants. We all know it's a fact."

Mayor Locke sighed before stating, "It is not really true. We have the right to break into five smaller states, not to secede from the country."

"I suppose if it were our right we would still be a confederate country after 180 years," Chief Mills added. "I'm also afraid if Texas does try to secede we will be broken into smaller states. It'll be like when West Virginia broke away from Virginia during the Civil War."

Locke stared at Mills for a second with a mildly surprised look on his face. "Chief," Locke said. "I never took you for a history buff."

* * * * *

Governor Tucker surveyed the ever-growing crowd in front of him. The protestors were eating out of his hands. He knew he would have to weave his words carefully to get the desired effect. He did not want to incite an incident quite yet. Tucker wanted to ratchet up the heat slowly so he could get the majority of the Texans on his side before he committed the state to actual secession.

The governor could not help but notice that there were very few officers hanging on the fringe of the crowd. Their few patrol cars were flashing their lights as a reminder for everyone to keep it civil. If Tucker was not careful, the officers would easily be over run by a rioting crowd and the backlash could be devastating to his plans. Especially, seeing as how there were actually more news crews than police officers.

As Governor Tucker wound down his speech, he noticed that the crowd was shouting for more. The governor smiled. He was getting the desired effect. Just a few more speeches across the state like this one, and everything would be in place.

The governor stepped down from the podium and nodded to his special guest, former Vice President Kimberly Watson, one of Ramirez's most vocal critics. The middle-aged soccer mom smiled and proceeded to take her place on the podium. The crowd instantly started to wildly applaud and shout.

Tucker and Watson made special plans for today's event. They knew the stakes were high and that they had to be careful in their approach. Watson looked down at her hand where she had written some last minute crib notes.

"Hello, Texas!" Watson smiled to the boisterous crowd. Her audience roared back in approval. "Don't ya think its time we showed Washington that enough is enough?"

Governor Tucker smiled more broadly as he sat in the metal folding chair behind the podium. Watson may have single digit approval ratings up north, but here she was a star. She was playing the audience perfectly.

"How do ya think we should do that?" Watson asked rhetorically.

The crowd shook their signs and shouted various answers. They were eating up every word.

"Maybe we should take back our country from that Marxist in Washington!" Watson shouted feeding off the energy the crowd exuded.

Governor Tucker suddenly started to frown. This was beyond what they had planned. The former vice president was going off script and she could instantly ruin their plans.

"Yeah, let's do it!" shouted some. "Kill the spic!" shouted others. However, most people just shouted "Texas, Texas!"

Kimberly jabbed her right arm into the sky and shouted, "Texas forever! Texas the free! Down with Washington, D.C! Let's start the revolution!"

Tucker cursed. It was too late the crowd was now in full riot."