Free TYRANT: The Rise by L. Douglas Hogan

Franks and Reynolds entered the building, Buchanan was already sitting at a table in the middle of the room. “My name is Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Buchanan. These Marines are following me and those Marines have gone to a place I cannot lead.” Buchanan was pointing to the fallen Marines in the front.
    “Our objective, Sergeant First Class, is to find as many Americans as we can, liberate them, and re-establish an America free from tyranny.” Buchanan sat and looked at Reynolds, but Reynolds chose not to speak until he was given permission to do so.
    “That’s my endgame, what’s yours? How about you start from the beginning and finish with how you watched four helos shoot up my men.”
    “First off, thank you for your hospitality. I know how this must appear.” Reynolds had an East Coast accent. He pulled a package of cigarettes from his breast pocket and offered a cigarette to Buchanan.
    “No, thanks. I was forced to quit when I could no longer afford them.”
    Reynolds then asked, “May I?”
    Buchanan nodded to Reynolds as he lit his cigarette.
    “Before the flush, I was stationed in Georgia and assigned to the 75 th . I am a direct action Ranger. Been doing that for years with a background in Airborne.
    “My unit received a command to unite with the Washington units and head to D.C. Once there, we were briefed on operation ‘Shakedown,’ which was a fancy code word for ‘confiscate, inventory, and control.’ The briefing was conducted by a UN general by the name of Muhaimin. In the room with us, there were ten white-collars, whom I was able to identify as regional czars. Two more showed up late to the party, for a total of twelve. We were briefed of impending riots, mob action against President Baker, and unprecedented crime rates. We were assigned with specific tasks to enter these hostile environments to quieten the ‘resistance.’ It was the word ‘resistance’ that first confirmed my fears that our government was the ‘hostile.’
    “At first, there were no operations we had to engage in. It was like that for months, until recently. We received an order to fly northbound, along the Mississippi, and engage rogue Marines that had committed treason against the president. When we arrived, I thought you were attacking civilians. I saw an explosion and a plume of fire. But then I saw the choppers we were with open up on both your Marines and those civilians. I pulled my pistol and put it to the head of the pilot. He was a UN thug and was about to open fire on everyone. I was confused at first, but my suspicions were that I was on the wrong side. I told the pilot not to shoot or I would put a bullet in his head. Everything happened so fast, by the time I had my wits about me, I gave a directive to the pilot to drop the last chopper. He did. Then I commanded him to land on the turnabout in the apartment complex’s parking lot, back that way. Once we landed, I killed the pilot. The men that are with me are US Army Rangers and they’re under your command now, Lieutenant Colonel.”
    “You didn’t know about the Americans being taken as prisoners and forced to board shipping containers bound for only God knows where?”
    “No, sir. I knew Americans were being relocated, but I was under the false impression they were being moved for their safety, to save them from starvation, and I guess I never really thought it through to a conclusive end.”
    “No, Sergeant, you had it right, but what you didn’t consider was the fact that government doesn’t give you ‘safety’ without taking liberty.”
     
    The District
    General Muhaimin opened the door to the Oval Office and walked in, uninvited. His stern countenance was apparent as he began to speak in his heavy Middle Eastern accent.
    “Your wealth of incompetence is astounding. At every turn, you have managed to get my men killed and have accomplished almost nothing. You are weak, and even when the people presumably believe you’re in the lead,