Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 206 Appalachian Mountains

The seventh day.

Appalachian Mountains.

As evening approached, the clouds hung so low they seemed to be touching the horizon.

The wind rustled through the haystacks.

The road was slippery, and the mud stuck to the soles of my shoes, leaving a dark gray trail.

The survivors of the town all went to the church without prior arrangement.

Of course, it wasn't for prayer.

The prayers ended on the fourth day.

That day, an explosion occurred at the supermarket to the west, and the warehouse caught fire.

Several naked corpses were found in the woods.

The priest died, and the statue of Jesus disappeared.

But this church was the last public space in the vicinity to have electricity.

There is light, a diesel engine, and water.

People walked in with their heads down, without exchanging pleasantries or glances.

The yard wasn't locked, but a retired veteran stood nearby, gripping an old-fashioned pump-action shotgun.

He said nothing, silently staring at every face that passed by.

A young couple sat by the window.

Not far away, there was a middle-aged man wearing a military jacket.

He carried a long spear on his back, and his sleeves were stained with blood.

"You came from Blakely?" the woman asked.

The middle-aged man nodded.

"Is the fighting still going on over there?"

"They stopped fighting a long time ago; only me and a few others who escaped are left."

In the corner, someone vomited.

"If they find this place, we need to be prepared."

As the man spoke, he looked up and glanced around: "Who else has bullets?"

No one answered, but four or five people moved.

"What kind of guns do you have?" he asked.

"Glock 17".

"Mine is .45."

After a few short words, there was an even longer silence.

After a long silence, the young husband spoke.

Do you think the Northern Command will come this way?

"They won't come."

“They don’t control this area, they can’t control it,” the man said.

As soon as the words were spoken, someone seemed to add:

"Nobody can control anyone else now."

The voice was very soft, as if it were a hallucination.

Leo Rad sat below the podium and placed the receiver on the bench.

The power cord socket was unstable, so I had to use my knee to brace it.

He tried seven channels.

There are five left.

Leo did not stop.

I didn't have it before, and I don't plan to now.

Just then, a little girl tiptoed closer.

"Who are you talking to?" she asked cautiously.

Upon hearing this, Leo was stunned for a long time, then shook his head in confusion.

He didn't know either.

Turning the knob again, the machine emitted a low, grating sound, like someone walking in the snow.

More people gathered around.

Not for hope.

It was simply to escape the unbearable loneliness.

Suddenly, the receiver beeped twice.

An eight-second blank carrier wave.

No one moved.

The little girl opened her eyes wide.

Leo held his breath.

Then, a woman's voice came through: "My name is Tamara Hughes."

Tamara sat at the edge of the oval metal conference table.

Before me is an open microphone.

The room was full of people.

The security advisor from the Maryland governor's office sat against the wall.

Beside him stood a lieutenant colonel from Nebraska representing Strategic Command.

Several federal representatives formed a semi-circle, the highest-ranking of whom was the Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The only man carrying a gun stood in the shadows.

Lieutenant Colonel, in a crisp uniform.

His presence signifies the ownership of this military base—Lucas Theodore Carter.

Tamara knew that after this speech, her life would depend entirely on this silent man.

She swallowed hard and looked down at the microphone.

The green light comes on.

The machine started recording.

Tamara took two deep breaths and finally opened her mouth:

My name is Tamara Hughes.

[The Vice President-elect of the United States of America, who has never taken office.]

[He was secretly detained three weeks ago and miraculously survived the Capitol bombing.]

Currently, I am neither in office nor can I represent any provisional government.

Today's broadcast was just one American speaking to other Americans.

[If you cast a vote of confidence in the last election.]

If you stand amidst ruins, and still hold onto a sliver of hope.

Now, please let me finish what I have to say.

Tamara paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked at the lieutenant colonel, seeking approval from his gaze.

The man's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Tamara relaxed a little and continued reciting from the script:

It is now the seventh day since the end of the United States.

During this period, we lost more than just Capitol Hill and the Legislative Chamber.

What we have lost is the federal government, constitutional order, and our legitimate place in the international system.

[As of now, the entire country is rapidly sliding into a catastrophic armed conflict.]

[The Tennessee National Guard and the 101st Airborne Division clashed in the southern suburbs of Nashville.]

The interim legislature of North Carolina is being contested by two armed groups from opposing factions.

California has established a "coordinating government" between San Francisco and Sacramento, and through the California consulate in San Francisco, has established a temporary financial connection with California.

Austin, Texas, has declared itself autonomous, refusing to accept verification from any remaining federal channels.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) remains operational, but multiple command nodes are attempting to regain access to its multi-domain operational network.

Most overseas bases have ceased responding or switched to their own communication channels.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council received notifications from several countries regarding the controversial recognition of the US interim government.

In other words, the world no longer accepts the existence of the United States of America.

In this dangerous and chaotic time, if no widely accepted, non-violent voice emerges, all parties will reshape "America" ​​according to their own interests.

This means civil war.

Not just one game.

Instead, they were countless civil wars with blurred boundaries, rife with nuclear weapons.

This would be a terrible disaster for the country and for the world.

My speech today is not because I have the answer.

Rather, if it remains unspoken, the unbearable cost will be borne by everyone.

Therefore, I will tell the truth.

【.】

【.】

【.】

The United States of America, as a unified federal republic, has come to an end.

The President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Supreme Court, Secretary of Defense, and all key figures in the constitutional succession line have died or gone missing in the Capitol Hill nuclear bombing seven days ago.

This signifies a complete end.

I know that many people still hope we can be "reborn."

[The hope is to hold another general election, form a government, and even "get back on track."]

However, I must tell you a harsh truth.

This so-called "right path" is, in essence, a path to destruction.

(End of this chapter)