Anatomy of a Rebellion

Chapter 39

Words With Wolves

The Department of Justice received complaints from members of the government about Ellis now being Commander in Chief. William wasn't very happy about the new arrangement, but he knew there was little that could be done. Still, he set out to work his damnedest to find the legally folly that he just knew the Congress and President had to have committed.

A Senator stopped William and requested that he attend the hearing for Ethan. When William tried to explain, "Sorry, I just can't. I need to ensure our military is under control first."

The Senator shook his head and said, "You're mistaken. The military has been trained to act as dogs; they'll never rise up. Rather, its ambitious men like Senator Hughes that are the real threat. They're the ones that will turn the military against us. For now, leave the dogs to fight amongst themselves over the crumbs we've given them. Let's take out the giant."

That is why an hour later William found himself staring down at Ethan from atop the perch the Congressional members had given themselves. He was the furthest to the left of Ethan, which gave him free reign to peer over and watch the other members as they spoke or listened. Ethan felt much different, of course. With his peers scrutinizing his every move and cameras in every corner of the room, he was forced to defend himself against unfound rumors and accusations derived from thin air. He was pleased to see that those who were forced to question him were diverse; both men and women from either side of the political spectrum and of various age.

The first day of the questioning was simple enough. All of the questions were over facts most already knew. What is your full name, your birthdate, your alma mater? Then it got into the more political side of things. How did you know Congressman George Ross, which organizations donated during your campaign, did you hold office before this? He gave them straight forward answers with a straight face. It probably irritated the news executives, who were betting on a wild show from the youngster. Patience was still evident in his face as the day wore on, and thus it concluded without any incident.

It wasn't until the second day that things got heated up. All of his patience had been whittled away at while he was held up in a hotel room for two months; whatever of it that was left had been drained during the first day. The interrogation started with a simple and polite, "How are you, Senator Hughes?"

"I'm fine," he answered with a small bite in his voice. It set the tone for the entire day. Bombarded with ridiculous inquiries over his relationship with the Ross family and accusations that the Hughes company assisted the European takeover, Ethan managed to keep his cool. As the day wore on, the words mangled into nonsensical phrases and he wondered if he was losing his mind. It all blurred together. As the sun was getting ready to set early in the evening, a pounding headache forced him to keep his eyes closed. It only served to irritate him even more.

The man in the middle was the one with all the questions. It was another young Senator, near Ethan's age, but from the opposing party. Ethan wanted to ask if it was election year, because he felt like he was starring in an attack ad against himself. This man's name was Welsh. He asked Ethan, "Is it true that you knew the whereabouts of the President during the Ozark Incident in autumn of last year?"

"As did the Secret Service, apparently," was his answer.

"What proof do you have of this?"

"None," Ethan shrugged. "But I've been around long enough to see laws passed and men condemned when neither proof nor evidence was anywhere to be found."

It was the first time Ethan offered such a retort. Welsh demanded, "Keep your answers respectful of the legislators."

"Says the man who claimed that freedom was the virus that would end America," Ethan muttered. It wasn't loud enough for anyone to hear, not even the microphones news companies had placed everywhere picked it up. Ethan spoke loud enough and clear enough to be heard when he said, "A Colonel and a Sergeant approached me with details about a possible coup, and so I passed that information along to the only fighting force within driving distance."

"You mean to say, you passed that information to Captain Ross of the Easy Eight," Welsh clarified.

"Yes, the only fighting force with driving distance," he repeated. Welsh could only send a small, barely noticeable glare in Ethan's direction. The Senator folded his arms over his chest and returned the look, but said, "Are we done here? I'm getting bored."

It was Congresswoman Mott that spoke next. "We'll adjourn soon, Senator Hughes. Just a few more questions. Now, why is it that when you were informed of the situation with President Kenning, you did not attempt to contact anyone other than Captain Ross?"

He said, "I panicked. I went to the only person in the world I could trust with anything. When you hear from a man in uniform that the President of the free world is under attack and could be killed by morning, do you think rationally?"

"Why is it that you trusted these soldiers?"

"Because they are soldiers," was the only answer he could give. "What American in their right mind would go to the government over such matters?"

"Wasn't it yourself, Senator Hughes, that proclaimed America needed to trust its government?" Mott said. "Your platform relies on a strong government, according to yourself."

Now Ethan knew these questions were political. "You've screwed my words, Adrianna, just like you screwed Judge Joe Saenz," he smiled.

The outbursts from those who questioned him only allowed his grin to grow. He caught the sight of William ducking his head down and hiding his face from the world. No doubt the young lawyer was suppressing a laugh. Welsh silenced the crowd when he said, "How dare you speak that way to a Congresswoman?! Apologize and address her properly!"

"Well, now I've officially broken a law so this stupid hearing has a purpose. After all, it was this 'strong' government that decided 'freedom of speech' wasn't truly freedom of speech. It was the nine to nothing decision of the great courts in 1942 that declared 'fighting words' illegal. Chaplinksy vs. New Hampshire, if I remember correctly. But I am no expert in constitutional law. How close am I, Solicitor General?"

"You are correct, Senator Hughes," William said. It was the first time he had spoken during the entire hearing. "I suppose an elegant lawyer could claim you purposely provoked Congresswoman Mott in an attempt to breach peace."

"Now that you have me, slam that gavel down and let's end this," Ethan dared. The gavel was near Welsh's right hand, but not a single finger flinched.

"That exception – as well as the others applied to the First Amendment – has its purpose, Senator Hughes," Welsh said. "Would you prefer to have enemies of our government use slander against it? Would you like to have those on the fringe make a call to arms and advocate violence against us?"

"Yes, dammit!" Ethan cursed. He was annoyed and allowed his guard to fall. If they were going to make a political point with him as the target, he wouldn't hold back. "Let them curse at our missteps and damn our mistakes! I'll tell them myself: Get your guns, get your guns! Defend your right to say what you want, to worship or not worship as you please. Have a revolution if you don't like it here, this is your country, not anyone else's. It's not a damn buzzword or catchphrase for me when I say that I believe in the American people.

"A strong government? Yes, I want one, but not the way you assholes see it. I don't mean powerful or godlike; I want a government that understands its purpose and has a solid foundation that it doesn't sway upon. I want those in office to believe in something for once, and I want those beliefs to be unmoving regardless of the world. I don't want to feel like I'm being scrutinized and every move I make examined and watched by the elephants and asses of Washington. I don't want to feel like I'm chained to a tree of comfortable servitude. I'm sick of those in power passing blame to each other like a game of hot potato, and then snickering together in the darkness as Americans die. They're dying, don't you get that? Here, in our own country; they starve to death as cops and soldiers shoot them, as militias march down their streets. And there, in Europe and Africa, in wars we have no explanation for."

Ethan had risen from seat and slowly crept toward his interrogators. At first, they allowed his rant to continue. Eventually he got close enough that Welsh and the others felt as though they could see the madness welling in his eyes. Frightened, Welsh ordered, "Restrain him!"

It took two guards on either side of Ethan to stop him, and a third to drag him back. Yet they did not silence him, "I'd prefer anarchy over what we have now! Yes, true anarchy! The disease is spreading, and God help us if it infects us all! In order to save the country, we must amputate the infected limb. Cut it off! Cut off the head of the beast! Kill the corrupted state! America is dead! Long live liberty!"

This rage induced rant flew out of his near-foaming mouth as another guard latch onto his torso and pushed the kicking Senator out of the room. His voice was silenced when the large chamber doors were slammed shut on his beet-red face. Without the eyes of the others on him, he heaved his lungs and adjusted his breath back to normal. He used his sleeve to wipe away the madness. You got your damn show, kid, he mentally said to William. "I think I just lost my job," Ethan moaned to himself.

"Better than losing your mind, Senator," one of the guards assured him.

"Am I late?" a newcomer asked. They turned to see a man dressed in full dress, a metal brace attached to one leg, and his combination cap tucked neatly under his arm. He tilted his head slightly and carried with him a puppy-eyed expression. Ethan, unaware of who the man was, ignored him.

"General!" one of the guards yipped and snapped into a salute.

"Ah, please, that makes me uncomfortable," the man nervously requested at the sight of the salute. The guard did not move from his position, forever expecting a return. "May I go in?"

The guard answered, "Of course, General, but as you can see, the Senator has been removed and it's late. I'm sure they're ready to leave."

All the General could say was, "Hmph." A scarred hand smoothed over the short dark locks on his head as he pushed past them and entered the chamber. Indeed, they were trying to file out through a backdoor, but the cameras were still rolling when he entered. He stopped them when he announced his arrival, "Excuse me, Congressmen, Congresswomen, Solicitor General, may I have a moment?"

Welsh and the others had a long day just as Ethan had. Ready to snap, Welsh managed to reel himself in long enough to politely turn the General down. "I'm sorry, General. The council has adjourned. I ask that you leave," he said. No one recognized the General. William felt as though the man was familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen that face before.

"Unfortunately, Senator Welsh, as an American citizen, I have no legal obligation to follow your directions."

That stopped the man dead in his tracks. He had to remind himself that the cameras were still on. He feigned deafness, "I'm sorry? General, you are part the military. You answer to me."

"You're mistaken, sir. The power over the armed forces has been given to Lieutenant General Ellis. I answer neither to Congress nor the President of the United States. And because I was recently discharged from the United States Army, I do not answer to Lieutenant General Ellis and I do not answer to the title of General any longer."

It was then that William remembered. It was almost a year ago when the report was first handed to him from a fellow member of the Department of Justice. The idea of legal action against Mexican-Americans had been brought up several times, but the only time any hardcore paperwork was given to him involved a Brigadier General stationed in Laredo. An unknown hero that had led legions of men to victory in South America, but was roped up and brought back to the United States in an attempt to watch his every move. Certain men in the military and government were afraid that this half-Mexican was interested in political power, so they shut him down.

William blurted, "General Trotter. This is unexpected."

"I come here not as a representative of the United States Army, despite the clothes I'm wearing. These are the clothes I wore the day that General Ellis ordered an attack against an American fortress. He blatantly murdered my comrades in an attempt to hide the fact that U.S. Army brass were in business with Mexican-run cartels. It was an operation designed by a West Point cadet, okayed by an Army General, and carried out by the Marine Commandant. I and a select few of my comrades were able to save but a small fraction of the Americans that were stationed in Corpus Christi. Then he used my status as Tejano and stripped me of rank, while he shamelessly persecuted those that risked their lives to save others," Trotter explained.

"What proof do you have of this?" Welsh asked. "How dare you come in here and viciously attack an American hero?! You were the one who disobeyed orders, and you've been dealt your punishment."

Trotter argued, "I disobeyed the orders of a usurper and a racist. I would disobey the order to watch Corpus Christi burn again if the same scenario were presented to me. Many of my comrades would gladly bear the fight against domestic tyrants so that cowards like you can sleep soundly at night and waste time with foolish charades like this at daylight."

"Get out," Welsh told him.

Trotter did not move. William could have sworn he saw the General plant himself more firmly. "You must remove Ellis from power. A war on the sea is going to erupt if the Navy is pushed any harder. America needs to focus on unity, not power struggles. Prince Brunhart is ready to attack Russia and will make his move before snow falls in autumn. The Mexican government has agreed to a ceasefire for an entire calendar year. Now is the time to focus our energy on not military might abroad but order here, at home. It is up to you, the great people of Congress, to lend your authority in the right areas and at just the right amount to prevent a war. You must choose: shall we save the union, or allow our fate to mimic that of Europe and China? This union or a new union, you must decide now."

"You –!"

"Tell me, Mister Trotter, why do you wear a brace?" William interrupted Welsh with a question.

Trotter shifted as though he suddenly became self-conscious of it. "I was severely injured and nearly killed during our rescue operation in Corpus Christi. It was because of the actions of Major Raymond and the Easy Eight that I am here now," he said.

"If those medals on your uniform are any indication, you are truly a hero. Regardless of why you were discharged, doesn't the government at least owe you the opportunity to properly heal your wounds? You did, after all, get hurt in an attempt to save other soldiers," William said.

"I appreciate your subtle compliment, Solicitor General, but I did not fight for glory and honor. I am not a hero. As a career officer, I understand that the military is about efficiency. It is not efficient or logical to pay to heal the wounds of a discharged soldier. I would much prefer that the limited funding Congress granted us be used for those who are still fighting."

A Congressman asked, "I can't tell if there's a thick layer of sarcasm in your voice or if you just speak that always. If you're so eager to help your country, why are you interrupting an important hearing?"

"An 'important hearing?' I don't see how the harassment of a man like Senator Hughes would possibly constitute as 'important,'" Trotter said. Before anyone could offer an argument or retort, he continued, "As for helping my country, I have already made my decision. Watching and hearing the lot of you make complete fools of yourself today has only solidified my position. I will fight for a new union."

Ethan had forced the large doors ajar only enough so that he could hear Trotter speak. After the last declaration, he closed it shut. The shouts of Welsh were barely heard. He let out a sigh and could only think about how much he wanted to go home. Really go home; back to Michigan, back to his hometown, and just leave the parade of fools all behind.