Chapter 99

When it rains, it pours. That was the old saying. Well, it turns out there was more truth than people realise. Russia collapsed a few weeks ago and now China has gone.

I was working out in my gym, watching the news feeds. Since the early 2020s, China had become increasingly dependent on Russia for its energy needs. In later years, due to trade sanctions, China had only been able to get a lot more strategic resources from Russia. So, when the zones popped up, they became totally reliant on them as the world supply lines fell apart.

What little had been gathered from the collapse showed the situation is far worse in China than anyone could have understood or even guessed that. The country was in the process of a massive famine that had already left over a hundred million dead. It was believed that the death toll would rise even higher just from starvation, let alone the chaos inside the former nation. The old has been sacrificed. It seems to keep the younger generation alive.

To make matters worse gross mismanagement by the Communist Party had polluted the northern Chinese plains water table. The northern half of China has no drinking water now. This was rapidly becoming the greatest humanitarian disaster in the history of the human race and that was without the zones.

The world was doing what it could. But with Russia and now China out of the picture and the US with its issues, there was little that could be done. The nations along the respective borders were closed off as hordes of refugees were on the move. Like the Middle East, they were trying to flee to safety but didn’t understand there was none anywhere now.

It wasn’t being openly discussed on the newsfeeds, but I had heard rumours that the grapevine that the European Union was almost gone. The compositor nations were on the brink of splintering themselves. Only a handful of the continent or Scandinavia were holding together reasonably well. Ireland was the best example of this and worked closely with the UK. Some rumours on the web indicated the European Parliament was planning to move to Dublin. This was one of the less crazy rumours floating around the web.

The problem was also that the web was now experiencing more significant issues. Large chunks of it were now missing or difficult to access. This was caused by the loss of cables and server farms that were now subsumed into zones. Satellite communication in some areas was also being affected as larger zones reached higher into the sky, blocking out signals from orbit.

Well, that was the bad news unless you count the rationing, population mobilisation and civil unrest within the UK and most other nations as the new norm. Things were tense here, but in many other countries were far worse. Removing China and Russia from the world stage was problematic but not unforeseen. The chaos now in the US with their second Civil War, or “civil emergency” as they called it, but having a far more profound effect.

Nations were still cooperating but were clearly beginning to act more in their own self-interest. I’m honestly surprised that this hasn’t happened sooner. Many talking heads on the feeds avoided the question of what was coming next with massive population movements and humanitarian disasters now breaking out everywhere, how long before more nations follow suit.

## ## ## ## ##

Colonel Hawk sat in a depressingly familiar bunker room under United Kingdom’s Zone Command, wondering about the future. The rooms are lightly staffed with only key personnel present as the matters they discussed were classed as top secret.

“How long before we lose the Europeans?” One of the Cabinet ministers in attendance asked. Hawk looked across the table at the Minister for the Home Office, Anna Grendel. He was a medium-height, built woman in her late 40s, always immaculately dressed with a no-nonsense attitude. Many of her detractors criticised her handling situations that could have used more finesse, claiming she was to the right of Attila the Hun and just as blunt.

“We are predicting weeks at most.” Hamilton replied. “The European Parliament is attempting to relocate its functions to Dublin. But the situation on the ground in and around Brussels is deteriorating.”

“So, the Irish government said no?” She asked.

“They were not open to the idea.” Hamilton informed her with his usual diplomatic style.

“What sort of fallout are we looking at here? I’ve read the recent reports, but I want an update if possible.” She asked, leaning back in her chair.

“Broadly speaking, we split the European nations into two categories. About to fall and those who are relatively stable. Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Malta and Iceland are the main members of the second list. The rest of Europe is at risk being on the first.” General Holsan answered the question.

“So, as bad as we feared.” She spoke after a few seconds of silence processing, but he had said.

“We have received some quiet inquiries from those nations and several others.” The Minister for the foreign office, Albert Donald, interjected. Many were not aware of this and turned their attention to him with interest on their faces. “CANZUK is the last major alliance pretty much left now. With the Europeans on the verge of collapse and NATO and the UN have gone, this leaves us as the last men standing.”

“I’m surprised the UN lasted as long as it did.” Snorted Grendel. No one else added anything, as we all knew her feelings on the matter.

“Is the Cabinet going to vote on the fortress protocols?” Hamilton enquired.

“Later today. It is expected to pass and be presented to Parliament tomorrow under the emergency act bill.” Those in the room who knew what they were talking about shifted uneasily, knowing that things had gotten bad for these protocols even to be considered. When drafted, they were framed as a last-ditch emergency measure, never intended to be used.

“General, are you and the rest of the military command staff prepared to implement them?” Grendel asked.

“Yes. We are prepared, but we are strained badly at the moment.”

“We are aware of that. It has been decided that there will be an additional call-up of personnel from the civilian population.” Another round of mobilisation trash will not be popular and everyone in the room knows it.

“Col Hawk, please walk through the main stages of the fortress protocols.” Holsan ordered.

“Yes, sir!” Hawk replied. “Stage one of the fortress protocols is the complete isolation of the United Kingdom from all refugees. Second is the aggressive engagement of all nonapproved air and naval traffic approaching the islands. Finally, the use of expeditionary military units to secure any strategic resources needed for the nation’s survival outside of its borders.”

The room fell silent as the full extent of what they were preparing to do became clear. They were effectively cutting off the United Kingdom from the rest of the world. Even as they spoke, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of refugees in northern France were trying to cross the channel. The Navy had effectively blockaded the coastline to prevent people from crossing. However, this didn’t stop them; hundreds were found dead and washed up on the shores daily as they tried to cross in anything that floated.

There were active concerns amongst many on how the service personnel would respond to these orders, let alone the public. If implemented, instead of just turning back the refugees or depositing them back into northern France picked up the Royal Navy and Air Force would actively engage them. This would turn the channel into a free fire zone for all nonapproved traffic. The situation, however, was getting so dire in the country that they had to implement these orders, or they, too, would see the United Kingdom become a failed state.

“We best go back to London. The vote will be soon.” Minister Donald reminded the others. They nodded and quickly bid farewell, leaving the room escorted by a junior officer from the facility. Most of the other staff members also vacated, leaving three men in the room. And when the door was shut, another conversation began.

“God help us all!” Hamilton muttered bitterly but loud enough for the others to hear.

“It seems that the end of days is upon us, Roger.” Holsan agreed with his friend’s statement.

The three men all knew just how dire everything was. All its outside appearance and strength, the UK and the other members of CANZUK were holding on by the slimmest of margins.

“I have argued with a cabinet extensively over the fortress protocols. I understand why we have to implement them, but the humanitarian cost will be horrific and if our society survives will be condemned for it by future generations.” Hamilton said, slumping back in his chair, clearly showing the stress of his job.

The room fell into a heavy and depressed silence as the third man, who had not spoken yet, weighed the problems before them. His old friend didn’t say anything knowing that he, too, had argued against the protocol but had to obey orders. Like many of his other high-ranking colleagues, he was concerned over the simple fact that the soldiers under them would follow the orders. He had an idea. They were not going to like it and it wouldn’t be easy, but it was better than what they were planning.

“General Holsan, Mr Hamilton, I have a proposal.” The two older men turned and looked at him expectantly.

“As you both know, the slammer initiative has been providing us with results. Since its initial deployment, we have closed three zones using the new devices in the last two weeks.” Both men knew this but nodded anyway. “The nation. No, the world needs a win, so I recommend Operation Spearpoint.”

Both men found that they were unaware of any such operation in terms of planning for deployment.

“What have you cooked up, Colonel?” Hamilton asked.

“Mr Hamilton. Simply put, Operation Spearpoint is the deploying of a massive team into one of the major zones with one of the new devices aiming to seal it.” This led to a lot of frowning from the others; what the Colonel was outlining was a perilous venture.

“Come now Hawk. We all know we can’t risk the level of commitment you are hinting at.” Holsan countered.

“Sir. Permission to speak freely.” His superior nodded in approval. “Right now, we are losing and dying a slow death. We all know it. The rest of the government knows it. The public knows it though many don’t want to admit it. We have to be bold if we are going to survive this. So, I have planned out Operation Spearpoint as our last chance.”

He spoke with great passion, which was odd for the usually reserved officer, surprising the other two men.

“Send us your plan. I know you have it with you.” Hamilton instructed. Hawk said the file from his digital pad to theirs and they both read it through.