Legends of Amacia Return of the Beowulf
Chapter 14: Nuclear Assassination

Nuclear Assassination

Meanwhile, on the surface the US President sat at his desk in the Mt. Weather bunker fuming over the newest reports about the strong resistance to his draconian Nazi-style agenda. People across the board resisted both passively and militarily the Nazi-style police state he’d implemented in the aftermath of the catastrophic meteor storm. His military apparatus had fractured with nearly a third of the US military, police, and intelligence services turning against him when he threw out the Constitution and declared martial law. They linked with resistance groups, militias, even religious groups who fought back against the President’s agenda. They hit concentration camps, bases, and other military targets. Open civil war raged in many of the major cities. As he perused the reports, the Secretary of Defense entered his office with a grim look. The President looked up from the reports as the Defense Secretary stopped in front of the desk. “Is everything ready?” he asked.

“It is, Mr. President,” the Defense Secretary replied cautiously. “The Congress is gathered in a joint session with all the Supreme Court justices in attendance and many of the department chiefs. Are you sure this is necessary? Many of your allies are present, arguing for your cause. You don’t need to do this, not like this.”

“They brought this on their own heads,” the President hissed. “Sacrifices must be made to ensure the peace and security of our country. None of them can be trusted, not my political enemies or the establishment lackeys who question my motives or methods. I will send a message to everyone that I decide what’s good for this country, not them. When the people see I have purged the corruption from the government, they will beg for my protection.”

“So you plan on going through with this,” the Defense Secretary replied grimly. “Will you not reconsider? Haven’t you had enough blood yet?”

“No,” the President replied, pulling a .45 automatic from his desk and pointing it at the Defense Secretary. “I will not reconsider, and you have just shown where your allegiance lies. The Council will not take away what they promised to me.”

The Defense Secretary raised his hands in horror when the President fired his pistol without blinking. “Mr. President, no!” he cried just before the bullet struck him in the forehead, throwing him back. The bullet opened up the back of his head, spraying his brains on the wall and floor before he fell to the floor dead.

The President rose from his desk, walked around and shot the Defense Secretary three more times: once more in head and twice in the heart. “This world is mine,” the President hissed. “No one is going to take it from me. They promised it to me and they damned will deliver, even if I have to kill every last one of them.” He knelt down, searched the body, finding a 9-millimeter pistol in the Defense Secretary’s coat pocket. Taking it, the President shot several times at the desk, leaving holes in it and the chair behind it. Hearing urgent voices at the door, he quickly wrapped the Secretary’s hand around the 9-millimeter’s handle, and then tossed it down close by the dead man’s hand. A sinister smile crossed the President’s face as he stood back up, backing away as the door rattled.

A marine guard rushed in with a four-star general after the shots. Both had their pistols drawn. Seeing the Defense Secretary dead on the floor with the President standing over him with his pistol, the general asked, “What happened, Mr. President? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, General,” the President growled. “But I can’t say the same for the Secretary of Defense there. He tried to kill me.”

“But why?” the general asked, puzzled. “Defense Secretary Allen has always been your staunchest supporter. Why would he try to kill you?”

“I don’t know,” the President lied, “Maybe the terrorists got to him. Anyway, he questioned the implementation of Order 99669. He tried to get me to rescind the order and when I refused, he tried to shoot me with that 9-millimeter. I got lucky and escaped injury, but was able to get my gun and kill him.”

The marine examined the body, looking closely at the wounds on the Defense Secretary. “You’re a good shot, Mr. President,” he commented, sensing something was amiss but keeping quiet about it. “Two in the head and two in the chest, that’s damned good for someone being shot at. What are your orders?”

“Take the body away,” the President ordered. “I don’t care what you do to it...just get it out of my sight. Also, no one comes near me with a weapon again. Have everyone searched and disarmed before they come into my presence.”

“Yes, sir,” the marine replied as he stood, saluting.

“And General...implement Order 99669 now,” the President stated. “Allen told me the Congress and Supreme Court has gathered at the Capitol as I ordered. It’s time to take our destiny back.”

“Yes, sir,” the General replied darkly. “I will relay the order immediately.” He saluted, and then helped the marine carry the body of the Defense Secretary out of the room, closing the door behind them.

The President went to his desk and sat down, putting the pistol in his coat pocket. “Now I will show Lord Hades and Lord Zeus who’s really in charge,” he growled, pulling up the live satellite surveillance of the Capitol Building from the outside. DC police, National Park police, and the National Guard had put up a cordon around the entire Capitol and White House, keeping the hundreds of thousands of protesters six blocks away from the seat of government. Barricades topped with razor wire blocked roads with light tanks and armed federal troops behind them.

Ten minutes later, the Capitol Building vanished in a coronal flash, followed by a nuclear blast that incinerated everything within ten blocks. It destroyed the heart of DC, killing a hundred thousand people in seconds while flattening the White House, and everything on the National Mall. For several moments, the blast blinded the satellite surveillance the President was watching. When it came back up, a mushroom cloud rose over the heart of DC. “Now they will know I mean business,” the President cackled madly. “I alone am destined to rule this planet. No one will stop me.” He laughed maniacally at the nuclear destruction of America’s seat of power at his own hand, not caring that he’d ordered nuclear weapons used on his own people.

News of the event raced across the country and around the world in minutes. It shocked even the Russian and Chinese governments, who had considered launching preemptive nuclear strikes to stop the US President’s blatant military aggression. Thirty minutes after the blast, the President interrupted all broadcasts to speak to the country and world.

Sitting behind his desk in Mt. Weather, the President wore a grave expression as he began. “My fellow Americans, people of the world; a calamity has befallen our government and country,” he announced with the grimmest tone. “Terrorist groups this administration has been fighting to eradicate have struck at the very heart of our democracy. A nuclear device of some kind has been detonated inside the Capitol while a joint session of Congress was underway. All of the Supreme Court justices were in attendance, along with much of my cabinet. None survived. A three-mile radius around the Capitol Building was pulverized, killing hundreds of thousands of people. For security reasons, I was not present when enemies of freedom committed this cowardly act. I’m grieved to announce that all our intelligence failed to see this threat before it was too late, but we have damning evidence that the Russian President and his government were responsible, committing an act of nuclear terrorism against not just the people of the United States, but against the World as well. They conspired with the extreme right-wing nationalist of this country to strike a blow at our very heart by providing them with a nuclear weapon. I therefore as the only remaining branch of this government declare total war on the Russian Federation, China, and all their allies. They have called down the thunder with this cowardly act. We will respond a hundred fold for this attack. Your only choice to avoid complete annihilation is total and unconditional surrender to the US. We will not negotiate. You will stand down your military, disable your weapons of mass destruction, and leave your military bases immediately or we will destroy them along with your major cities. Furthermore, the Russian and Chinese leadership must surrender to the UN so they may answer the charges of crimes against humanity. Failure to comply will result in the complete nuclear destruction of your countries. You have eight hours to comply.

“And to the radical terrorist elements within the US and abroad who assisted in this atrocity, you have no place to hide. We will hunt you down and bring you to justice so you may pay for this crime against humanity. I will protect this country to my dying breath with all means at my disposal. Those who wish to rule by force have supplanted the Rule of Law. We must reestablish the Rule of Law for a safe and secure society around the world. People of the world, no longer will this country allow you to threaten us, or your neighbors. It’s time our new world order become a reality so that we can live in peace and safety. If you can’t police yourselves, we will do it for you. Therefore, think hard before you consider resist our agenda of peace and safety for all. If you resist us, you will find yourselves an enemy of Humanity and be eliminated. I will await the response of each nation. Nations not involved in this atrocity have twenty-four hours to let us know that they will comply. Do not mistake our resolve. We will not tolerate threats to our security no matter where they come from. All threats will be neutralized violently with extreme prejudice. Defy this order and you will reap the consequences. The clock is ticking. The Rule of Law will be restored to the world. We will have a safe and secure society where all can prosper under our global leadership. May God bless the United States of America.” The President then got up and walked out of the camera’s view as it shut down.

Picking up a phone, he said into it, “The order is given. We are at Defcon 1. Bring me the Football. Prepare to attack. Have the safeties on the orbital ion cannons removed and bring them online. I will forward targeting coordinates presently.”

“Yes, sir,” a voice came through from the other end of the line. “All assets will be activated and put on standby waiting for your orders.”

“Good,” the President replied, slamming the phone down. Plopping into his bullet-riddled chair, he smiled wickedly. “Let’s see the Council stop me now,” he cackled.

The temperature of the room suddenly plummeted to the point it made the President shiver and his breath condense visibly. His blood ran cold as a small dark man in a pure white suit with almost black eyes stepped into the room through a solid wall. The dark man in white had bronzed leathery skin with a two-foot snow-white ponytail. He emanated a ruthless dark evil that far surpassed what the President felt from either Hades or Zeus. His icy glare fell on the President as he approached the desk. The President started to call out, but found himself paralyzed completely in the presence of the dark man. He couldn’t even move from his chair, which caused him to panic.

Stopping in front of the desk, the dark man smiled wickedly at the President. He stretched forth his hand and the President floated out of his chair, feeling an invisible force squeezing him as he floated. “You play a very dangerous game, Mr. President,” the dark man declared ominously, “...one that will cost you your soul if you’re not careful. Declaring war on the Council was not a wise move. Lord Zeus made it very clear to his underlings that if you strayed from the plan in the slightest they were to exterminate you with extreme prejudice. You just did that by setting off that nuke in the Capitol Building while it was filled with the Council’s allies. You have just sealed your doom, Mr. President. They will not sit still for this treachery. You have but one option left...flee and pray they do not find you. I can see you have something to say, so I will permit it since it may be the last words you ever utter.” With a flick of his hand, the President crashed into his chair, briefly stunning him. “Be careful how you address me, Mr. President. I’m not Lord Hades or Lord Zeus. They’re just puppets in the hands of the Emperor. I, on the other hand, am a true Lord of Darkness with the capability of ripping your soul to shreds while you’re still alive. Now speak, you pathetic piece of human ape shit.”

“What are you?” the President asked, terrified and still paralyzed from the neck down.

“You cannot fathom who or what I am,” the dark man stated. “Your mind is not wired to process my existence, nor the true nature of the universe. For now, just understand that I am Surtur, and even the Council fears me for I draw on a power far darker and fouler than they ever could be. Worlds without end have fallen to me, and now the darkness of this world has empowered me once again, as it did in the Days of Darkness of your 1st Age. Your greed and lust for power have amused me, as has your callous disregard for the lives of your fellow human parasites. It’s been eons since human activity has amused me to this extent.”

“What do you want?” the President asked cautiously. “Are you here to kill me at Zeus’ order?”

“Stupid ignoramus; Zeus and the Council are nothing to me,” the dark man Surtur growled. “They’re just flies on a festering rotten pile of shit fighting to control something they cannot comprehend, must less control. You are no different. I could wipe all of you out with a thought, but where would the fun be in that. Do you want what those treacherous apes promised you, Mr. President?”

“You’re damned right,” the President replied emphatically through his terror. “They promised me the world, and then betrayed me. I’ll kill all of them if I must to have what they promised me.”

“Your soul is truly corrupt and filled with darkness and chaos,” Surtur crowed with delight. “You’re willing to destroy the entire world to get what you want, right?”

“I am,” the President answered bluntly. “No one but me is going to rule this planet.”

“I see,” Surtur stated. “Then this is what you must do. If you wish to evade the Council long enough to destroy them, then you must leave this bunker right away with your brain trust and most trusted security personnel. Take off on Air Force One and stay airborne for the time being. When you do this, have your techs disable the tracking devices on the aircraft. If you do not, the Council will find and kill you, if the Russians and Chinese don’t find you first. You know they aren’t going to submit to your immature, childish demands and retaliate before the deadline is up. Even now, the Russians and Chinese have activated their assets to eliminate the threat you pose to the world. Stupid human, did you really think you could bully the entire world into serving you? Boy, are you stupid or what? You fell right into their trap. With your ultimatum, you showed the Council and the world that you are now a lethal liability to them. Now, the entire planet is after your sorry ass. But you have one chance to escape. Leave now, and head out over the Atlantic toward Bermuda. It’s a safe place for you. Move quickly as a ghost or they will kill you.”

“Why are you doing this?” the President asked, now puzzled that Surtur wanted to assist him.

“Because your game with the Council has amused me,” Surtur stated with a wry smile. “You’ve proven most capable in thwarting their actions up until now. They know now you’re a rabid dog that has gotten off his leash. I’d like to see how far you can actually take this. Besides, the Council has now become redundant and lost their way. Someone needs to put them in their place and I think you may have the balls to do it.”

“So, you’re not with them,” the President surmised, still cowed and paralyzed by Surtur’s power, but not as terrified as before.

“No,” Surtur stated. “The Council is a construct that’s outlived its purpose. Soon, the war between the Emperor and Beowulf will break out of Amacia and spill onto the surface of this miserable mud ball of a planet. When that happens, the Council will be a powerless entity worthy of the destruction that comes on it.”

“What do you know of Beowulf?” the President asked hatefully. “He’s been a thorn in my side for years. He’s like a roach. I just can’t seem to get rid of him.”

“You’re no match for Beowulf,” Surtur hissed. “You never were. Beowulf is like me...a being whose existence you cannot comprehend. He can destroy you with a thought. Your only option is to leave him be. I will deal with Beowulf in my own time, supposing he survives his encounter with the Emperor of Amacia.”

“Who is this Emperor of Amacia?” the President queried, getting a very sour feeling in his belly.

“He’s a demon lord of the highest caliber masquerading in the flesh of a man with command over the infernal Hordes of the Darkness,” Surtur stated. “He has the backing of the Dark Gods and is about to unleash his fury on this world for what Beowulf did to him in the 1st Age. Should Beowulf not checkmate him, the Emperor will unleash ten thousand fold on the world what you threatened in your little temper tantrum. He will literally burn this world to ashes and slaughter humanity down to the last child. His minions will feed on your kind until humanity is extinct. Then he will spread his empire to the stars. However, his fate remains clouded because of Beowulf. Not even the great gods of the most Ancient Darkness know what will happen in this contest between the Emperor and Beowulf. In any case, you have no chance against either of them. You’re just a child playing in a game of gods, demons, and immortals. Now go if you wish to live. The clock is ticking.”

The door to the office opened, getting the attention of both Surtur and the President. Three marines rushed in with their M-16s, pointing them at both the President and Surtur. “Mr. President, you are under arrest for high treason against the United States of America and for crimes against Humanity. Come with us now or we will shoot you where you stand,” the sergeant barked, training his weapon on the President.

“Away with you pests,” Surtur hissed, waving his hand towards the three marines casually. “Our game is not yet ready to be concluded.” The three marines screamed as they spontaneously combusted into pillars of fire so hot it vaporized them along with their weapons. Surtur looked menacingly at the President, “It’s time to go, Mr. President. This is just the first of many attempts to stop you. Go. I shall be watching.” With that, Surtur walked away, passing through the solid wall like a ghost.

The President suddenly found he could move and immediately made a call, ordering his brain trust and most loyal security personnel to meet him at Air Force One. Two hours later at Andrews Air Force Base, he boarded Air Force One with his brain trust and took off heading east over the Atlantic with four fighter jets and an air tanker flying escort.

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