Patriots by Max Masen
Chapter 6:
Can We Still Win?
Where I was from, I never heard of him. But around here, he was a big deal. Huge, in fact. Everyone knew him because everyone feared him. They feared they were next to be captured and enslaved. That was his thing. Emily told me he’d enslave people and have them do embarrassing, menial tasks. Most of them, however, he had work in mines and farm. It didn’t sound so bad. However, he reaped the benefits while they worked. He sat back and commanded his men to torture and kill the people he didn’t like. It was his utopia. It was his world. It was Joe-land. That’s what he called it and he would kill anyone who refused to call his land exactly that.
I was more interested in what got him started. I wanted to know what made him like that. He was a seemingly ordinary man for most of his life. After the fall, he took the chance to reshape the world around him how he wanted.
Joe lived at home with his wife and eight children. He didn’t like what he was seeing outside of his window. He knew the country was falling and he prepared for his hostile takeover. He was a farmer and he quickly rounded up the people in his area. He persuaded them to join his fight and they agreed. He promised them a bright future: A future in which they would never have to work again. He would force out all traces of the American government from the region and he would create his new world. The people liked what he was saying. Sure, most of them didn’t understand the full extent of his plan, but they followed their charismatic leader nonetheless. It was the country man’s time to shine. That’s what they thought.
What had I learned so far? Charisma will get you very far as a leader. Also, while preparing for a hostile takeover, be crazy. People seem to love crazy. Aside from being crazy, you have to keep people on their toes. Be unpredictable. Joe did exactly that.
Joe’s oldest nephew confronted him about his plans. Joe attempted to have his nephew join his ranks. His nephew, however, after learning his fears were true of his uncle being a madman, pulled a gun on Joe. Joe knew his nephew wouldn’t pull the trigger so he called in backup from his sons. Let’s just say Joe’s nephew isn’t in the family tree anymore. He’s hanging from it.
Joe’s wife was attracted to his new and powerful status. She encouraged him and Joe knew he had no more immediate threats. His family and neighbors prepared their takeover.
Joe stormed the mayor’s office along with his small group of militant followers. The mayor forfeited the town without a fight. Joe-land was born. Joe stormed the buildings around town with his men. They rounded up the citizens and threw them into a big heap in the streets. They killed the ones that wouldn’t cooperate. The rest became slaves.
A wall was built around the city that separated Joe-land from the rest of America. The main reason for the wall was to ensure no one could escape. All objection to Joe’s rule was squashed very quickly. Joe was the absolute ruler. A new, small nation was born in the aftermath of the war.
Shortly after solidifying his hold, word reached Joe that the U.N. was sending in troops to put down the rebellion. Joe’s new world was at stake so he armed all of his people, including the slaves.
The residents of Joe-land manned the walls and prepared to defend their city. A detachment of one hundred British soldiers from the U.N. were sent to take care of Joe. They surrounded the wall and demanded that Joe give up his hold on the city. The soldiers were prepared to end the confrontation peacefully. However, Joe picked up his rifle and shot the commanding officer in the chest.
The soldiers returned fire and took up defensive positions around the city. The siege was broken and there was no backup for either side. The U.N. forces were occupied with the rest of the country and one hundred soldiers was all that were allowed to deal with Joe. The U.N. had thought most of the revolutionaries would give up peacefully. They didn’t know the American people.
The British soldiers threw grenades and planted explosives to tear down Joe’s walls. Joe’s approximately one thousand former civilians held off the soldiers for three days.
After the third day, only fifteen British soldiers remained. They had killed off about six hundred of Joe’s militia. Joe had six soldiers hostage. He and a group of his men took the hostages outside of the wall with guns pointed to their heads. They approached the soldiers and taunted them. The soldiers were beginning to show signs of desperation and fear. Joe gave them the choice to leave. He told them it was either that or he would have them all killed.
The British routed as Joe shot the hostages anyway. He then ordered his men to shoot the soldiers in the back. Only one escaped with his life.
The U.N. only stayed in America for five out of the current seven years of the revolution. Many of the countries were forced to pull out due to problems they faced back in their own lands. The American people were too determined, powerful, and armed to be swayed by the power of the U.N.
Joe showed his ability to lead during the battle against the British soldiers and the slaves grew even more scared. Some attempted to fight back with their new firearms but they were quickly put down by Joe’s militia.
Joe lost three of his children in the fighting. He was ready to cement his grip on the region. Joe ordered his people to go out and round up as many sturdy vehicles they could find, preferably jeeps and trucks. They found machine guns at an abandoned military outpost and mounted them to the tops of the trucks and jeeps. Soon after, they came across landmines and planted them in the roads. Joe began ambushing passing vehicles and taking their people for slaves and using their supplies. His numbers quickly grew and his people became armed, even better than before.
Joe became determined and spread his reach. His influence and momentum increased with no end in sight. We were in his influence. We were in his territory. We couldn’t escape. We were going to have to fight.