Extinction Aftermath by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Author:Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction / Science Fiction / Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic, Fiction / Science Fiction / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Science Fiction / Military, Fiction / Dystopian, Fiction / Thrillers / Military, Fiction / War & Military, Fiction / Horror
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2017-02-06T16:00:00+00:00

12

President Jan Ringgold walked through the gardens outside the new White House, her hands clasped behind her back. She was sick to her stomach over the events of the past three days. She laced her fingers together too tightly, pain racing up her right arm. The bullet that Lieutenant Brett, the monstrous first victim of this war, had fired into her shoulder still stung from time to time. She didn’t mind the pain; it was a reminder of the evil that had reshaped the world.

Now that evil was back. It might have a new name and wear a new face, but the motivations behind it were still the same. Power. Vengeance. How many more lives would be lost because of these ROT terrorists?

Ringgold felt paralyzed by the same darkness she had felt when she was hiding at the bunker in Raven Rock. She refused to let that darkness consume her. Instead, she paused by a rose bush and bent down to inhale the sweet scent of the blossoms. Perhaps stopping to smell the roses was a cliché, but it served as another necessary reminder.

There is goodness and beauty in the world. There is hope. That’s why you have to keep fighting.

She looked up from the flowers to find her National Security Advisor, Ben Nelson, standing before her, dressed impeccably as always. Ringgold wondered where he managed to find his vast assortment of colorful ties. Today’s was the same bright red as the roses. Chief of Staff James Soprano rounded a hedge of bushes a moment later, sweat dripping down his bald head. He flattened his gut as he approached and stood up straighter.

“Madame President,” Nelson said.

Soprano, out of breath, joined them. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”

“Is it?” Ringgold asked. She unclasped her hands and looked at the men in turn. Though she had personally vetted them, she didn’t fully trust them. There was no doubting their intelligence; both men were brilliant. But in a way that only made them more dangerous. They hadn’t risked their lives for anyone. They hadn’t taken bullets or killed like she had. Maybe it was a lot to expect, but that was the type of loyalty she was looking for. Until then, she would remain on her guard.

“We have an update, ma’am,” Nelson said. “We’ve reached out to all of the SZTs to warn them of the threat from ROT. We’ve also increased security and diverted several Marine brigades from city-clearing duty to protect the uncompromised SZTs.”

“That’s good,” Ringgold replied. She crossed her arms. Then Nelson’s words hit home.

“Wait, did you say ‘uncompromised’?”

“Yes, Madame President. There’s bad news, too,” Soprano added. He dragged a handkerchief across his forehead. “SZT 61 has declared sovereignty.”

Ringgold’s eyes shot up. “New Orleans has … seceded?”

Nelson chimed in. “We knew it was coming, ma’am. SZT 14 is on the fence. SZT 33 and 49 are threatening the same thing.”

Ringgold cursed under her breath. Those last two safe zone territories were in Texas. Their mayors were congressmen who had served on the opposite side of the aisle from Ringgold.

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