War on the Home Front: Chapter 1: Invasion

Story by James Matrix on SoFurry

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Hey y'all! The first chapter of my new series. Takes place one year after Small Town Sheriff. Still follows Dan and his boyfriend Zack. It picks up right after the sneak peak on the last chapter of STS.

Intro: A bomb goes off in D.C. The whole city is laid to waste. Along with the President and First Lady, and dozens of foreign dignitaries, nobles, ambassadors, and military officials. The U.S. took the brunt of the attack, but it is felt all over the world. We find Dan and Zack cleaning themselves up after their interrupted by the terrifying news.

Chapter 1"Holy shit." Dan said, watching the news.

On the flat screen TV was a female human news reporter, tears streaming down her face, as she stands in a suburban street, behind her a nuclear mushroom cloud expands over the former US capitol.

"I'm here in Baltimore. A nuclear weapon has just been detonated over the city, wiping it out." She and all the shocked civilians behind her are hit by the shock wave. A few people are knocked on their butts, car alarms go off, and windows shatter.The camera is picked up off the ground and refocused on the reporter.

"We were just hit by the shock wave of the blast. Even miles away, it is enough to shatter windows and knock us off our feet. We do not have any information yet, if this is an act of terrorism by Al-Qaeda, or the Taliban, or if it is a direct attack by another nation."

Dan turned of the TV as he tucked his dress shirt into his jeans, and put on a brown leather jacket. Zack wore slacks and a collared shirt. Both put on deodorant, knowing that they still would smell of their intimacy. But in this case, they knew that if anyone noticed, they wouldn't care, or comment. Dan and Zack grabbed their car keys.

"We'll take my truck. I just got lights and a siren installed, it'll get us their faster." Dan said.

"Yeah. I left my DoD car in the garage at the Fed building." Zack said.

With their ID's and sidearms, the two men left the apartment. They got to the elevator lobby on their floor to find it packed. Most of their neighbors were all holding bags and looking very anxious and scared. Several people spotted the two agents, and began a barrage of questions, which alerted the others, who also put in their two cents.

"Are they really going to lock down the city?"

"Are the cell towers down? My phone won't work."

"Is it true they can't get a hold of the entire East and West Coasts?"

"Is Austin going to be next, it is a state capital after all and we have two bases nearby?"

"Whose in charge if the whole government has been wiped out?"

"Will there be any survivors?"

"What about Baltimore? I have family there?"

"GUYS!!! QUIET." Zack said. "We know just about as much as you do. We are headed for the Federal Building and will asses the situation. Just give us time to sort it all out. The government prepares for this, there are protocols in place in case the government has been hit hard. Stay calm. If you want to leave the city to stay with friends, go ahead, it couldn't hurt."

The elevator chimed and the doors slid open. It was packed. People tried to push on and Zack and Dan blocked them.

"Do not get on. It is full. It will break if you over fill it. Take the stairs." Dan said.

The two ran down the stairs, and into the streets. The streets were filled were cars, not moving, all honking and panicking. A dozen looters were fighting one another in front of a Best Buy, while two cops and a mall cop tried to restore order. Honking just about drowned out every noise. A gunfight could happen a block over, and on a normal day, half the city would hear it, but not today.

The two Feds ran across the street into the parking garage, and climbed into Dan's brand new black Ford F-150 crew cab. Dan turned on the truck, and the V8 engine roared to life. Dan pulled out of the space, and made his way to the exit, only to find it backed up as well. He flipped on the lights mounted on the dashboard and the siren, and drove over the cones and drove out the entrance.

"Damn, its chaos out here." Dan said. Even his siren and lights did little to get him moving.

Dan turned the wheel quickly, and popped the curb, scattering the looters, and pulling up next to one of the cops. He rolled down the window.

"Is it like this everywhere?" Dan asked, knowing the answer, but just double checking.

"Yes sir. The whole city is jammed up. Our units are having a tough time getting out, and the chief is putting us all in riot gear if we can get back. But i doubt we all will. We leave, and the looters come back." The leopard said, wiping a paw across his sweaty brow.

"Is the Federal Square backed up as well? Thats where we're headed."

"Its packed too, but according to my radio, a few of our units, your FBI agents, the buildings' security, and all the other agencies on that block are setting up road blocks, letting traffic out, but not in. They are sealing the block off. I know the staties have the capital and Governor's Mansion locked down as well."

"Thanks officer, good luck."

"You too." The officer said, before jogging up to a few youths who were throwing things at the cars.

Dan stayed on the sidewalk, only moving at 15 miles per hour, but still better than the streets. Any other occasion, and Zack and Dan would have found amusement in the looters that scattered at the screaming and flashing truck.

After 30 minutes, Dan and Zack arrived at the roadblock the cop had talked about. But it wasn't just a road block, it was more. The concrete barriers, barbed wire, and prefab guard towers turned the area into a fortress. FBI SWAT and police patrolled the perimeter, assault rifles in hand, and riot shields strapped on their backs. Dan pulled up his truck to the one of two gates at the new fort. Several police and FBI cars made a movable road block, while concrete barriers created a staggered pathway, so cars could get through, but only slowly. This meant any car bombs or getaway vehicles couldn't speed through. Dan and Zack flashed their IDs, and were let in immediately.

They parked the car illegally, but out of the way. No one would tow an FBI agent's truck. The two entered the FBI building where armed security guards, with rifles and shotguns and body armor, checked their IDs again, and let them through. Dan went up to his floor first, where his team's little corner of cubicles sat. His team of four agents were young and fresh, but also becoming some of the best very quickly. Dan was approached first by Leena Sanders, the only female member of his team, and a black hawk.

"Boss, what the hell is going on? The office director won't tell us anything except he wants to see you up in Tactical."

"I don't know what's going on but i'll let you know when i find out."

Dan and Zack took the elevator to the eleventh floor, out of fifty. Dan approached a reception desk, flanked by two men. One an FBI SWAT, and the other a suited man Dan did not recognize. All he knew was that he was Secret Service, from the pin on his lapel. Dan showed his ID to the 'receptionist', a dowdy women, but armed, and good with a gun. He swiped his card again at the double door panel, and they slid open. Dan walked down the hall, guarded by more Secret Service.

Dan and Zack came to opaque glass double doors flanked by more guards and swiped his card one more time. They slid apart revealing a massive room full of computers and monitors that went from floor to ceiling. The director, a tall male human with greying hair, was up in the front of the room looking at the main screen, asking questions and giving orders as agents furiously assessed the situation. Dan and Zack walked up to him.

"Sir. Got here finally. City is a mess. What's the situation?" Dan asked.

"We lost contact with all of our east coast offices in the North East and North West. D.C. is blown to hell and we can't contact ANYONE in those areas. The news feed many were watching went down about thirty minutes ago. Complete blackout. We contacted the commander of Fort Hood and the commander of Randolph Air Force Base and even they can't get a hold of any troops in the area. No contact with other Feds, State or local authorities. As I said, COMPLETE blackout. We assume the President and First Lady are dead along with all people in the D.C. area." The Director said.

"What can we do? Perimeter security? Situation assessment, crowd control? My team is one of the best field teams but when it comes to figuring this stuff out, i leave it to the techies."

"Security is being handled by the other teams and building guards. We need you and your team to join Vice President Perry's Secret Service team and escort her to the Governor's Mansion. It has been secured by State Troopers and National Guard troops. Its the safest place outside of the city, away from the crowds and such."

"Yes sir. Where is..."

A female grey fox walked up followed by Secret Service Agents.

"Director. We are ready to leave." Vice President Angela Perry stated.

"We are ready when your FBI auxiliary team is ready. We need to leave soon." The lead agent said.

"The black hawks from Fort Hood are nearly here. ETA five minutes. The FAA is grounding all flights and the skies are full of airliners, not to mention fighter craft patrolling the skies. You may not be able to take a direct route to the mansion, but it will be much faster than taking your motorcade." The director said.

"Ok. Is your team ready Special Agent O'Bern?" The head U.S.S.S. agent asked.

"We will be ready in time." Dan stated.

The director turned to Zack.

"We will need your DOD contacts. I need your help to asses the situation since you are better trained for this stuff than most of my staff."

"Yes sir. I will help in any way I can." Zack said.

"Director! The news feed has returned. It appears one of the field reporters has it back up." One of the staff says as he changes the feed to the main screen.

The human female reporter was back, still in the neighborhood. but crouched up against a house. The area glows with orange.

"This is Andrea Waits. I'm in Baltimore, just outside of the downtown area. Our feed went down. Someone has been jamming all communications and bombed all the power hubs and main lines, along with the radio and cell towers, and all communication stations. Jets have been flying by, and we can't get a good look at them."

Just then, massive amounts of jet engines begin to roar, getting louder.

"Sounds like more jets, but big ones. We will try to maintain the feed as long as possible. Lets get a shot of this."

The camera pans up to the sky, showing massive amounts of jets flying over. Things begin parachuting out of the back. The parachutes get closer, and it shows troops. Thousands of troops were parachuting down into Baltimore. A very loud siren sounded. It was the air raid siren of the city. Never before been turned on for the reason it was made.

"THis is incredible! We are being invaded. I repeat, we are under attack! The jets re zooming overhead, and we managed to get a look at it. It is Russian. We are under attack by Russia! Oh my god, this cannot be happening!" The reported began to panic.

Just then, a Russian soldier, wearing a gas mask, landed near the camera crew. Several others near a cop car. The two cops opened fire on the soldiers as they got out of their parachutes. Three dropped dead, while the fourth near the news van raised his weapon, only to be tackled and stabbed by a doberman with a butcher's knife in his hand. More troops arrived, opening fire on the cops and unarmed citizens. Several more went down as they were attacked by citizens armed with guns and knives. A Russian soldier came up the the camera and raised his gun, opening fire. The feed then went out.

The room was dead silent.

"Change of plans!" The VP stated, raising her voice. "Contact all law enforcement and government officials. We are to execute a code black plan. All population centers are to institute a voluntary evacuation plan. All law enforcement are to arm themselves heavily. All national guard are to be on full alert at all times, and fully armed. All Armed forces are to prepare for battle. Fully armed and equipped. I will stay here and monitor things until I can get to Fort Hood myself."

"Ma'am." The lead Secret Service agent said. "We need to get you to safety. We'll get you to Fort Hood, and get you transportation to the Cheyenne Mountain NORAD Alternate Command Center. You will be able to monitor the activities of the US Armed Forces there, and we can swear you in as President."

"Good. But I am staying here till the choppers are ready to leave." Angela Perry stated.

She turned back to the Director, and began discussing the situation with him. Zack was on the phone with the DOD contacts he could actually get a hold of. Dan felt a little useless, and began to pour over the communications the FBI was getting, helping the beleaguered staff sort them out. Most of the staff was the night shift group, the massive traffic was preventing the rest of the Austin Field Office from getting in quickly. People were slowly trickling in, and were quickly assigned tasks.

"Why are the Russians attacking us?" Dan asked the Director.

"They believe we were behind the assassination of the Russian President and Prime Minister in Moscow."

"That's it? So they nuked us?"

"No. They did not nuke us. No missiles were tracked when the bomb went off. The Russians were already on their way when the bomb went off. Making it easy for them to slip into the North East while we were panicking and sorting ourselves out."

"So we have two mysteries, and three issues to deal with. Issue and mystery one, who nuked DC, mystery and issue two, who set us up causing Russia to invade, issue three, the Russians invading us." Dan mumbled to himself, while walking back to where he was doing things.

"Yes. Essentially." The Director answered.

After several hours, the Director and the Vice President, soon to be POTUS, turned to Zack and Dan.

"Special Agents O'Bern and Tanner, we need you over here." The Director said.

The two finished what they were doing and walked over.

"We need you two to make your way to the East. Dan, is it correct that your sister lives in Charleston, North Carolina, and runs the company there?" The VP asked.

"Yes ma'am. After the incident last year, she moved most of the labs to that state. She wanted to get away from the media in Texas."

"Well, we want you to go there. North Carolina is the closest state to the blackout boarder. It is already on high guard, and the National Guard and Army and Marines are arming up and moving north. We want you to go to Charleston, and meet up with a team of Marines that will insert you into the Dark Zone, as we are calling it. Your sister and her company have some equipment in production that you will be able to put in use for the mission. You will scout" The director said.

"Why us?" Zack said, asking the obvious question. "Why not get a SEAL or Spec-Ops team to do so? Let alone other FBI and DOD agents."

"Well, you are the best. All SEAL teams and Spec-Ops will be occupied d=with mission against the Russians. The CIA has likely been dismantled mostly. Plus you have invaluable contacts to use. Dan has his company contacts, and Zack DOD. Plus, you are here now and easy to debrief. We also can't risk a wire tap on our systems since the Russians may have seized valuable intel and encryption keys in our North East offices."

"In the case of an invasion, all systems are destroyed and all files burned." Dan said.

"Well, with a dozen offices there, something may have slipped through. So suit up, get ready, and be in the conference room in an hour." The director said.

"Yes sir." The tow agents said, trading a look of worry.