State of Pursuit

“Dad,” I whisper.

“Cassidy,” he nods, smiling.

There are tears in his eyes. But we don’t move. We can’t.

Chris smiles meaningfully at me. I barely manage to turn my attention back to Lockwood as he begins speaking again. My heart is racing in my chest. I feel faint, dizzy. I’ve been worried about my dad ever since I left Camp Freedom two months ago.

Thank you, God. Thank you.

Who else is here, I wonder?

“We might as well tackle the issue at hand,” Lockwood says, placing his hands on the railing in front of him. “The Pacific Northwest Alliance — specifically, Oregon - is moving in from the north and Mexico is pushing from the south. Omega is relentless in their naval and land attacks on the western coastline, but the Alliance has managed to push them out of San Francisco, and most of Oregon.”

Angela raises her hand.

“The Senate recognizes Commander Wright,” Lockwood says.

“What about Mexico?” she asks. “Where are they headed?”

“They have secured San Diego,” Lockwood replies. “The east coast is engaged in pitched combat. The United States military has amassed what forces they have left and concentrated on Florida, New York and Texas. Omega is sending an army from the east, and they will attempt to send millions more through the central valley.”

“We stopped their advance from the south,” Colonel Rivera bellows. “We can do it again.”

“We’ll need more than simple strategy this time around,” Angela says, leveling her gaze at the Colonel. She’s seated at a desk, legs crossed. Cool as a cucumber. “We are surrounded on all sides by millions of soldiers. We need manpower and firepower.”

“Which brings us to the ultimate question,” Lockwood replies.

The tension crackles in the room as Colonel Rivera glares daggers at Angela.

“Canada and Mexico have proposed an alliance with the state of California,” Lockwood a

Chris and I look at each other.

So this is what the big news is.

“An alliance is not something to be taken lightly,” I hear my father volunteer.

“Allying with another country — or in this case, two countries — changes the dynamics of our war,” Chris adds. His voice is strong and clear. I can’t help it: my heart swells with pride hearing him talk. “But in my opinion we can use all the help we can get. Face it, we’re fighting for our lives. Omega kicked in the front and back door, and right now is the moment of truth. We fight or we die. It’s as simple as that.”

“And what if Canada and Mexico end up turning their backs on us?” a woman in a Navy uniform asks. “What if we succeed in pushing Omega out and they decide to stay here?”

“What if Omega succeeds in invading our country and they stay here?” I say, standing up suddenly. My voice wavers for a moment. “Here’s the truth: Omega is going to destroy us. Period. We are doomed if we don’t get help. Grassroots militia groups and the remains of a National Guard force will only do so much. We need more than that.

“The survival of the only free nation left on the planet is at stake. Our lives are at stake. We have to get united on this. Right now, the only reason that we’re able to meet in Sacramento is because of what Canada and Mexico has done in the north and in the south. Without them, Omega would have held San Francisco and San Diego and we’d be pushed out of here, too.”

“How do we know we can trust the alliance?” Colonel Rivera growls.

“You’re a fool if you think that we can win this on our own,” I reply. The room falls silent. “We need help. Desperately.” I step into the aisle, overcome with a powerful urge to say what needs to be said. “Look, I’ve been in this fight since day one. I have seen what Omega has done, just like everyone else in this room. I saw what they did to the city I grew up in. And I’ve seen what they’ve done to my friends and family.” I take a breath and steady my voice. “I’ve held my friends in my arms as they’ve bled to death on the battlefield,” I say, softer. “I’ve seen children digging through garbage in the gutter just to stay alive.” I open my arms up. “And you think there’s some kind of question about whether or not we should accept help? We are dying, my friends. This is it. We won’t get a second chance. So make the right choice. For God. For country. Whatever it is you believe in. Please. An alliance will help us. Choose the destruction of Omega, because that holds the promise of freedom. This is the right thing to do.”

I clench my fists, the rush of determination making my speech bolder.

“I think it was Ben Franklin who said that if the revolutionary war heroes didn’t hang together, they would all hang separately,” I continue. “I’m not a great historian, but let’s look at the facts. If we don’t stand united, Omega will take us down. But together, we stand a chance. I choose freedom. I choose to fight, even if it means I might die. Because I won’t live like this, in Omega’s shadow. There’s too much at stake. Stand together. Right now, unity is our most powerful weapon. Let’s utilize it. We can do it.” I look at Lockwood. “We just have to make the right choice now.”

Thick tension settles over the room. I turn around and look at Chris. He is staring at me, and then he tips his head in a slight nod. In the back, somebody starts clapping. It’s probably my dad. He would. It’s followed by more applause, and then the audience above our heads is standing up, and so are the rebel leaders in the room.

And I realize that they are clapping for me.

For all of us.

It seems to go on forever, until the applause is broken by the Speaker of the House.

“Well said, Commander Hart,” Lockwood speaks. “Unite or die. Freedom or enslavement. It is a harsh truth, but a truth nevertheless.”

“Hart is right,” Angela says. “We must stand united.”

“I agree,” a man in a Marine uniform says. “Liberty or death. The options are clear, and we have to make the choice to form a united front.”

There is a tumultuous bout of cheering and agreement from the civilians in the seats above. The officers in the Senate Chambers are lifting their fists into the air, shouting things like, “Liberty or death!” and “Hart is right, we need to join the Alliance!”

“The majority vote rules,” Lockwood says. “California will join the Alliance, and together, we will combine with the states of the west coast, as well as the countries of Mexico and Canada, in our stand against Omega’s invasion.”

More cheering. More raised fists. More backslapping. I have not moved from my standing position, and a feeling of sweet relief sweeps over me.

This is the right thing to do. I can feel it.

“California must have representation to the Alliance,” Lockwood continues. “As such, I propose that we appoint a senator to represent California’s interests in the negotiations with representatives from the Pacific Northwest Alliance: Washington, Oregon, Canada and Mexico.”

“We need someone who understands what we have been through,” Dad interjects. “Somebody who knows what’s at stake.”

“Where will these negotiations take place?” someone asks.

“That has yet to be determined,” Lockwood replies.

“Will we be negotiating between the states and countries — or will we also be negotiating with Omega?” Angela asks.

“Both,” Lockwood says. He is silent for a moment. And for some reason, I know what is going to happen before it does.