Chapter 1 — The Tree of Liberty _March 2, 2033, 1731 hrs, Fort Hood, Killeen, TX_ "What are you going to do, General?" Colonel Bill Sutton asked. Texas National Guard General Don Baldwin grimaced, staring at the printouts with conflicting orders. One set, from National Command Authority, ordered his unit to, and he couldn't believe it, advance on Austin and arrest Governor Powell and the members of the Texas Legislature who have voted for secession. The other set, from Governor Powell, ordered him to defend the capital from federal forces. "Hell if I know, Billy," he replied. "How about forgetting that I received ANY of these orders and let everyone calm down. Taking APCs to Austin is not going to go well, no matter which way I go. And if the regular Army thinks I'm going to follow Governor Powell's orders, they won't let any of us off base." "If you sit still, you'll be arrested and they'll put someone else in charge who'll do it." "Do what?" General Baldwin asked. "Arrest the Governor and State Legislature? Possibly fire on American citizens? Or face down the regular Army when they're ordered in? You're a Texan; would you follow either of those orders?" "Hell no." _March 2, 2033, 1752 hrs, Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas_ "What are you going to do, Colonel?" Captain Tom Dobbs asked. "I have to call General Baldwin," Texas Guard Colonel Brad Wilson replied. "If he's going to follow his orders from the President, he'll roll through the Texas Guard like Patton rolled through France." "If he refuses, they'll use the regular Army," Captain Dobbs countered. "And kick off the Second Civil War." "It's already started, Tom," Colonel Wilson said. "It's just a matter of choosing sides." _March 1, 2033, (24 hours earlier), Austin, Texas_ "Jack," Governor Robert Powell said, "inform the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate that I want to address a joint session tomorrow morning at 11:00am." "What topic?" Jack Hartley, his Chief of Staff asked. "It's not about a new state bird, that'd for damned sure! Just tell them it's about the current crisis, and tell them I want to see them at 5:00pm. If that's not convenient, work out a time with them, but no earlier than 5:00pm. And no aides." "Are you going to tell _me_ what you're thinking?" "Just set up the meeting, Jack." "Yes, Governor." His aide left, and Governor Powell began writing his own speech, longhand, on a yellow legal pad. He dared not use the computer, as if what he was planning leaked before the speech, his plans could be dashed by Democrats in the State Legislature fleeing the state to deny a quorum. It was slow going, as a set of black, red, and blue pens was a poor substitute for a word processor. His Chief of Staff returned about an hour later with an agreement from the Governor's two fellow Republicans, Senate President Andrew Baker and Speaker of the House Martin Delaney, for a 5:30pm meeting in the Governor's office. Jack Hartley pressed his governor for information, but Governor Powell was tight-lipped. As much as he trusted Jack, he couldn't trust anyone with what he was planning, beyond the two men he'd invited to the meeting. As he worked, he watched the continuous news coverage on KXAN on the unfolding crisis. Law enforcement across the country was rapidly losing control, and President Gillibrand had called out the National Guard to put down protests in Washington, DC, as well as neighboring Virginia and Maryland. As more and more citizens converged on DC, things looked to get uglier there, as protests turned violent in Ohio, Tennessee, Lousiana, and Indiana, prompting further Guard activations. The protests so far in Texas had been relatively peaceful, as had the ones in Florida, but Governor Powell didn't think that would last. Rallys supporting the President had also stayed peaceful in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, and Chicago, but had turned violent in Portland and Seattle. Governor Powell finished his speech, rewrote it in clean longhand, then locked it in his desk drawer. He made notes on a pair of notecards for his meeting and pocketed them, once again avoiding using his computer to guard against anyone discovering his plan before he could execute it. He fixed himself a drink, and waited for the Senate President and Speaker to arrive, which they did promptly at 5:30pm. "Drinks?" he asked. "Bourbon, neat," Speaker Delaney said. "Same," Senate President Baker added. Governor Powell poured them each a glass of bourbon and handed it to them. "What's the topic of the joint session, Governor?" Speaker Delaney asked. "This cannot go further than the two of you," Governor Powell said. "I mean that. No leaks. Not even your top aides, not even your majority leaders or whips." "Are you thinking what I think you're thinking, Governor?" Senate President Baker asked. "I believe I am, Andy," Governor Powell said. "It's time for the Republic of Texas." "Secession?" Speaker Delaney asked. "I don't see any choice, Bob," Governor Powell said. "The National Green Energy Plan will devastate Texas, and small businesses are closing right and left, and that's even before the inheritance taxes destroy family-run businesses and farms. And the National Safety Act, which is going to pass today, will, in effect, make online dissent a criminal act." "If this leaks, the Dems will flee," Speaker Delaney observed. "That's why you cannot tell anyone. Let the press speculate about the topic of the speech, but say nothing." "I'm already hearing that some of them are thinking of fleeing the state simply because you're addressing the joint session," Senate President Baker said. "A risk we'll have to take," Governor Powell said. "I'd prefer to have a quorum, but if not, we have the numbers to push it through, and we'll do that. Once the Republic is declared, what happened before won't matter." "We'll need a new State Constitution," Speaker Delaney observed. "Yes, we will," Governor Powell replied. "But until we can draft one and have the people vote on it, the bill declaring he Republic of Texas will include the election of a President and Vice President by the legislature, with authority to appoint ambassadors, conduct foreign trade, and repel invasion. Everything else is status quo ante, with the exception that the legislature, until a new constitution is approved, can override the State Supreme Court by a two-thirds vote of both chambers." "You realize that there are enough regular Army troops in Texas to stop this in its tracks, right?" Speaker Delaney asked. "I don't think US troops are going to fire on US civilians," Governor Powell said. "And I feel very strongly that the Texas Army National Guard will refuse orders to 'put down a rebellion' as I'm sure it will be termed, and the separate Texas Guard is under my direct control as governor." "We're going this alone?" Senate President Baker inquired. "Any state that wants to join with us is welcome, and our starting point will be the US Constitution, though with the Bill of Rights made stronger, especially the First and Second Amendments. And a clear statement that no power not expressly delegated may be exercised by any future union government." "You seem to have thought about this quite a bit," Speaker Delaney observed. "And you haven't, Martin?" "I have," the Speaker admitted. "This is a hell of a thing." "It is," Governor Powell agreed. "Give me an alternative." "If I had one, I'd propose it," Speaker Delaney replied. "But once President Gillibrand and Speaker Pressley decided on scorched earth, the die was cast and the Rubicon was crossed." "That's how I see it, too, Governor," the Senate President added. "I'll draw up a bill," Speaker Delaney said. "Longhand," Governor Powell said. "I know it's a pain in the ass, but no leaks. I wrote my speech on a legal pad, and it's locked in my drawer." "It'll be short and sweet," the Speaker replied. "Declaring the Republic of Texas with you as President. Who's the Vice President?" "Not that weasel Calhoun," Governor Powell said. "I needed him to shore up my credentials with the Evangelicals, but I'll be damned if I'll put him in a position to impose a theocracy! I'd like you, Andy." "I'd be honored, Governor." "Once we're through the initial period, you're my Secretary of State, Martin." "I'd be honored as well, Governor." "Then let's make this happen, quietly," Governor Powell said. "I'll bring in the Rangers to ensure nobody bolts, which is expressly permitted by the current Constitution and rules of both your bodies. They'll be there for security, of course, but once I begin my speech, an order will be unsealed directing them to prevent any member of the legislature from leaving the chamber." "I assume we're dispensing with all procedural rules?" Speaker Delaney inquired. "What do you think, Martin?" "I think I have a lot of work to do before 11:00am tomorrow." The three men shook hands, and the legislative leaders left the Governor's office.