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  ALSO BY JAMES WESLEY, RAWLES

  Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse

  How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It

  Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse

  Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse

  Expatriates: A Novel of the Coming Global Collapse

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) LLC

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  New York, New York 10014

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  A Penguin Random House Company

  Copyright © 2014 by James Wesley, Rawles

  Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  Rawles, James Wesley.

  Liberators : a novel of the coming global collapse / James Wesley, Rawles.

  pages cm

  ISBN 978-0-698-16145-0

  1. Survival—Fiction. 2. Financial crises—Fiction. 3. Suspense fiction. 4. Dystopian fiction. I. Title.

  PS3568.A8437L53 2014

  813'.54—dc23

  2014020037

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Version_1

  DISCLAIMERS

  All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic bulletin boards, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the events described are imaginary, taking place in the future, and do not represent the world as we know it in the present day. It does not reflect the current geopolitical situation, governmental policies, or the strategic posture of any nation. It is not intended to be commentary on the policies, leadership, goals, strategies, or plans of any nation. This novel is not intended to be predictive of the territorial aspirations tactics of any nation or any planned use of terrorist tactics. Again, it takes place in the future, under fictional new leadership of many nations. Any resemblance to living people is purely coincidental. The making and/or possession of some of the devices and mixtures described in this novel are possibly illegal in some jurisdictions. Even the mere possession of the uncombined components might be construed as criminal intent. Consult your state and local laws! If you make any of these devices and/or formulations, you accept sole responsibility for their possession and use. You are also responsible for your own stupidity and/or carelessness. This information is intended for educational purposes only, to add realism to a work of fiction. The purpose of this novel is to entertain and to educate. The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any citizen, person, or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this novel.

  This novel is dedicated to my excellent wife, “Avalanche Lily,” for her inspiration and encouragement.

  CONTENTS

  Also by James Wesley, Rawles

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Disclaimers

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Dramatis Personae

  Author’s Introductory Note

  1. EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES

  2. THE HISTORIAN

  3. DAILY GRIND

  4. CHOOSE CIVILITY

  5. WORKFORCE

  6. DIFFUSED RESPONSIBILITY

  7. THE CROSSING

  8. CUP OF JOE

  9. TOLERANCE

  10. VOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT

  11. YOU CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE

  12. CONVEYANCE

  13. DEPARTURE

  14. MUTUAL SELF-INTEREST

  15. BYPASS

  16. THUNDER BAY

  17. DEEDS, NOT WORDS

  18. IN DEFENSE OF

  19. LPCs

  20. THE ZONE ONE GATE

  21. IN THE 1880S

  22. HUNGER

  23. SIGNALS COLLECTION

  24. END IN MIND

  25. PROMISES

  26. REFUGE

  27. LA MAIN DE FER DANS UN GANT DE VELOURS

  28. BRUSSELS CHARADES

  29. UN ESSAIM

  30. TOP CONDITION

  31. STEEL SHIPS AND IRON MEN

  32. PUMAS AND GAZELLES

  33. COLOR OF LAW

  34. SUSPICION

  35. THE NEW HIGHWAY PATROL

  36. HOOFING IT

  37. BLENDING IN

  38. PACKING IT IN

  39. INGRESS

  40. JE NE SAIS QUOI

  41. IN A PAST LIFE

  42. MILK RUN

  43. FERTILE CRESCENT

  44. TAKING OUT THE TRASH

  45. LE DERNIER COMBAT

  46. THE TRAP

  47. THE CHEESE

  48. EFFRONDREMENT

  49. BEIJING CHARADES

  50. BLINDING FLASH

  51. PROJECT JORDAN

  52. TIEBREAKER

  53. NI HAO

  54. THICKER THAN WATER

  55. HINTERBOONIES

  56. RECUPERATION

  57. BIG TREBLE

  58. EBB TIDE

  59. FLAMBÉE DAY

  60. WEDDING PRAYER

  Glossary

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse [is] a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver [any] by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he [is] our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

  —PSALM 33:16–22 (KJV)

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Phil Adams—Defense Intelligence Agency counterintelligence case officer with the Defense Clandestine Service (DCS) Task Group Tall Oak, Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

  Jacob “Jake” Altmiller—Hardware store manager in Tavares, Florida.

  Janelle (McGregor) Altmiller—Real estate agent in Tavares, Florida. Wife of Jacob Altmiller. Sister of Rhiannon (McGregor) Jeffords and Ray McGregor. Daughter of Alan and Claire McGregor.

  Lance Alan Altmiller—Son of Jacob and Janelle Altmiller. Eleven years old at the onset of the Crunch.

  Terrence Billy—Garbage truck driver, Williams Lake, British Columbia. Member of the Secwepemc tribe.

  PO3 Jordan Foster—Navy SEAL BUD/S student, United States Phil Bucklew Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC), Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California.

  Larry Guyot—Owner/manager of Guyot Railway and Engine Maintenance, Ltd., Prince George, British Columbia.

  Jerry Hatcher—Cessna 180G bush pilot, Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

  Dustin Hodges—Deputy sheriff, Bradfordsville, Kentucky.

  Peter Jeffords—American missionary from New Hampshire.

  Rhiannon “Rhi” (McGregor) Jeffords—Missionary originally from Bella Coola, British
Columbia. Wife of Peter Jeffords. Sister of Janelle (McGregor) Altmiller and Ray McGregor.

  Sarah Jeffords—Daughter of Peter and Rhiannon Jeffords. Seven years old at the onset of the Crunch.

  Hal Jensen—Section chief, DCS Task Group Tall Oak, Washington, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

  Joshua Kim—NSA security officer, Washington, D.C.

  Jean LaCroix—Son of Megan LaCroix. Three years old at the onset of the Crunch.

  Leo LaCroix—Son of Megan LaCroix. Five years old at the onset of the Crunch.

  Malorie “Mal” LaCroix—Younger sister of Megan LaCroix. Former machinist in Kearneysville, West Virginia.

  Megan LaCroix—Intelligence analyst NSA contractor at Fort Meade, Maryland. Divorced mother of Jean and Leo LaCroix.

  Ken Layton—Former mechanic and member of the Northwest Militia.

  Stan Leaman—Dairyman from Anahim Lake, British Columbia.

  Sylvia Leaman—Cousin of Stan Leaman. Sixteen years old at the onset of the Crunch.

  Kevin Lendel—Member of the Northwest Militia.

  Alan McGregor—Retired cattle rancher, Bella Coola, British Columbia. Father of Ray McGregor, Janelle (McGregor) Altmiller, and Rhiannon (McGregor) Jeffords.

  Claire McGregor—Wife of Alan McGregor. Mother of Ray McGregor, Janelle (McGregor) Altmiller, and Rhiannon (McGregor) Jeffords.

  Ray McGregor—Afghanistan War veteran and military historian. Originally from near Bella Coola, British Columbia. Living near Newberry, Michigan. Son of Alan and Claire McGregor. Brother of both Rhiannon (McGregor) Jeffords and Janelle (McGregor) Altmiller.

  Brian Norton—Defense Intelligence Agency counterintelligence case officer and electronics expert with DCS Task Group Tall Oak, Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

  Scott Paulsen—Defense Intelligence Agency counterintelligence case officer and Russian linguist with DCS Task Group Tall Oak, Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

  Lamar Simons—Mayor of West Hamlin, West Virginia.

  Rob Smith—Cessna Amphibian float plane pilot, Tavares, Florida.

  Chad Sommers—Grandson and adoptive ward of Ron and Tracy Sommers. Eight years old at the onset of the Crunch.

  Ron Sommers—Rancher and former Marine Corps 3002 ground supply officer, living near Alta, Wyoming.

  Tracy Sommers—Wife of Ron Sommers, living near Alta, Wyoming.

  Clarence Tang—Defense Intelligence Agency counterintelligence case officer and Chinese linguist with DCS Task Group Tall Oak, Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

  Aaron Wetherspoon—Retired U.S. Navy chaplain.

  AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTORY NOTE

  Unlike most novel sequels, the storyline of Liberators is contemporaneous with the events described in my four previously published novels, Patriots, Survivors, Founders, and Expatriates. Thus, you need not read them first (or subsequently), but you’ll likely find them entertaining. For those who have read them, you will find that this novel ties together the four previous books. My regular blog posts are available at: http://www.SurvivalBlog.com.

  1

  EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES

  The backbone of surprise is fusing speed with secrecy.

  —Carl von Clausewitz

  Seattle, Washington—October, the First Year

  To Phil Adams, it seemed that his life had become jammed in “fast-forward.” Even though his job as a contract counterintelligence agent with Defense Clandestine Service (DCS) Task Group Tall Oak, Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was already fast-paced, recent global socioeconomic events were spinning out of control. The mass media was abuzz about the inflation jumping above 100 percent, annually. Federal debt obligations had reached absurd numbers, the stock markets had reached dizzying heights, and there were rumblings about foreign repudiations of U.S. Treasury paper.

  As he drove toward a routine security paperwork inspection with a defense contractor, Phil Adams had his attention glued to the car radio. He punched the radio’s scan button often, jumping from news report to news report. The stories that he heard this morning were the worst yet: rioting in Detroit and Cleveland and rumors of mass demonstrations being planned by “community activists” in many other major cities. Phil muttered to himself, “This is starting to damage my calm.”

  Then Phil got a call on his cell phone from his manager, Hal Jensen.

  “I need you to either get back to the Section office or get to a STU phone, pronto!” Hal said.

  “I’m on my way to Peregrine Systems for a quarterly,” Phil answered. “I’m just a two-minute drive from there. They’ve got a secure phone. I’ll call you in five mikes or less.”

  Just three minutes later, Phil called Hal on the secure line. “What’s so urgent?”

  “I just got a priority tasking via the high side. We’ve been ordered to fully update and upload all of our electronic holdings, clean our Section out of the SCIF, degauss and destroy all of the Tall Oak local classified holdings, and turn over the entire SCIF to the FEMA staff. I’ve also been directed to close out all employment contracts—both full-timers and the ad hocs.”

  Phil was stunned. After a long pause, he replied, “Okay, I’ll make some excuses here and be back at the office ASAP.”

  • • •

  Phil drove back to JBLM—still listening to the bad economic news on the radio. Phil was thirty-two years old, of average height, with a handsome face, brown hair, blue eyes, and short-cropped hair that was turning prematurely gray. The gray hair was an advantage on post, where everyone seeing him in civilian clothes assumed that he was either a field-grade officer or a senior NCO who was off duty. Even though he wasn’t tall, soldiers had a tendency to step out of the way when he walked down the hall. His physical bearing triggered immediate respect.

  As he walked into the Tall Oak Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), he could immediately feel the tension.

  Hal spelled it out tersely: The economic collapse had forced a drastic cutback in federal programs. For the first time ever, intelligence agencies had their budgets axed, and the deepest of those cuts were made to agencies with contractors. They were to destroy all of their holdings and shut down the Section. Their communications equipment would all be handed over to the FEMA staff. However, three of their computers designed specifically for handling SCI traffic would be useless to the FEMA staffers without their removable hard drives. But that was of little concern to the departing Tall Oakers.

  Tall Oak had one locked storage cage in the far end of the building that was used to hold their Field SCIF gear. This cage contained some dusty equipment in plain view: two pallets of coiled concertina barbed wire, three folding tables, a half dozen folding chairs, a bundled GP small tent, two sledgehammers, a shovel, a four-wheeled utility cart, a two-wheeled dolly, and a tall stack of galvanized forty-gallon steel trash barrels that could be used as burn barrels. None of this gear had been used in recent memory, and the only time that Phil ever saw it was when he was escorting visiting inspectors. In the context of their work, the Field SCIF gear was essentially a collection of relics and an administrative nuisance—just a few more items to count each time that they had to do a PBO inventory.

  Fortunately, with digitization, the volume of hard-copy classified material that DCS Task Group Tall Oak stored had decreased in recent years. Most of their holdings were in the form of magnetic media that could be destroyed by degaussing them—passing them through an intense magnetic field. But the task of destroying all of the paper documents would still be enormous.

  Since the SCIF had only three crosscut paper shredders, Jensen decided to set up a temporary Field SCIF in the motor pool area behind the building to burn most of the documents. Stringing the three strands of concertina wire went quickly. They didn’t bother staking it down. Inside the concertina wire enclosure, eight burn barrels were set up in a semicircle. Green plastic Scepter cans of diesel fuel were hauled out and used to stoke the barrels since documents stacked
more than five pages thick did not burn well, just by themselves. There were also fire extinguishers nearby, if needed.

  Many cartloads of documents were wheeled out of the SCIF and down the hall to the burn barrels. The flames were a hazard (since the barrels had to be stirred regularly with a length of pipe), and the smoke was irritating. Intermittent rain showers made the work miserable as wet ashes began to cling to every surface.

  As they worked, Phil’s coworker Clarence Tang listened with earbuds to news reports on a compact FM jogging radio, which he had strapped around his upper arm. He relayed the news headlines tersely and sporadically, half shouting, “There are still riots in progress in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Now in California there are also riots and looting in Oakland, Stockton, and San Francisco. So far there is just sporadic looting in Portland and downtown Seattle. They say that Vancouver, BC, seems almost normal, except for a couple of protests by ‘the usual activists.’ They’re describing the freeway traffic like it’s rush hour, but at midday. Seattle traffic is definitely slowing down, and they may be closing Sea-Tac airport since there are riots in so many destination cities. Seems like most metro areas with populations over a half million are in trouble. Part of Miami is in flames, out of control.”

  Phil discovered that the reinforced concertina wire–handling gloves worked well at protecting his hands when he stirred the drums of burning documents. Meanwhile, inside the SCIF the bulk degaussers were kept humming, demagnetizing various media. The various “wiped” removable hard disks, disk drives, and tape cartridges were then carried out and smashed with sledgehammers, and then burned for good measure. Hal even had them burn the stacks of generic classified document cover sheets, even though they themselves were not classified. (Jensen always held a “belt and suspenders” attitude about some things.)

  Next, they checked the serial numbers of all of their handguns and locked them in one of the GSA high-security drawers. Unlike the others, Phil kept his holster, because it was his personal property. He reminded Hal that he had a SIG P228 at home and asked if he could keep his two issued spare thirteen-round magazines.