Chapter 7: Let Freedom Ring

(Day 39- June 30, Galena, Alaska)

The ballots arrived at all of the inhabited villages, and those with less than twenty remaining residents above the age of eighteen, were asked to vote while the plane waited so it could carry the ballots back again. An addition to the ballot when they were printed was the write in choice for the voter preference of what to call the new independent entity. When the election for statehood was held in 1958, most of the Native population was never given the chance to vote, while the military was allowed to vote no matter where in the USA they called home.

This time everyone that was known was encouraged and even pressured to vote at least on the statehood issue. It also included the military now stationed around Alaska again. A thumbprint in ink signified that they had voted. As soon as 12:01 rolled around under the midnight sun, the rest of the ballots were cast and the verifying officials accompanying the pilots insure that the ballots were not tampered with, began to take off to return to Anchorage to begin counting.

News also came in from Texas with the flight that carried Sandy Harper, that the 3^rd Mexican Army under Gen Alfonse Ramos had been routed at Tucumcari, New Mexico, and that a pilot from Alaska had a hand in it. Alaskans shared in that good news, just as they had in the retaking of Seattle.

Still the election weighed foremost on everyone's mind. The exit polls reflected what the polls taken days before did. The support for the Independent status issue was overwhelming, and it appeared Judge Murray would be the Governor.

The Alaska Special Election Commission, to which Paul Kensington had been appointed, would count ballots until 7:00 the next evening, and then if the number of outstanding ballots were less than what could alter the results, they would project winners. When he and his pilot landed the Cessna 207 at Merrill Field in Anchorage at 2:30 a.m., the morning of July 1 after collecting ballots all day from the surrounding communities, both he and Sgt Johansen were ready for a few hours' sleep.

(Day 40 — July 1, 3:10 a.m. off the coast of Alaska)

The election had drawn interest from all within range of the radio stations and Ham radio operators around the world with the electricity to function. One of these was a Russian ballistic missile submarine. As the word passed through the sub that because the USA was no more, Alaska was becoming its own country, the men wondered, "Does this mean we can be friends with the Alaskans?"

The message was also picked up across the Bering Strait at a fighter base near Providenya, where a Russian fighter squadron was regrouping. There the news was also greeted with anticipation. After all the Russians and Alaskans had a common enemy that still threatened them both.

The enemy was listening too, and Gen Chung had asked to be kept informed of the results. If Alaska seceded from the USA, then it would be ripe to move against. Chung asked his planners to draw up a plan that could cripple Alaska with the least number of troops. The objective: the Alaska Pipeline and control of the oil supply.

(Day 40 — July 1, 7:30 p.m., Anchorage, Alaska)

The polls closed and 19,500 votes had been counted, with less than a thousand still to be counted, and the judge from Nome, Nathan Murray had been elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Alyeska. A retired State Police Commandant, Mark Sellers from Trout Lake (formerly of Anchorage) was elected as the Vice-Governor. All of the Independent Party candidates won. Frank Sweeney did not, and asked to be put on a plane to the lower 48 at the first opportunity. Within a week he would have company from many of the losers and those whose candidates lost.

Judge Murray, now Governor elect began to call his cabinet choices. General Brubaker was asked to be the Minister of Defense, and retain his military title if he wished. Admiral Grover would then be placed in charge of the Alaskan Military Command, the equivalent of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both men accepted and swore a prepared oath of allegiance to the new Commonwealth to be named "Alyeska".

Gov Murray reached out to two of his political opponents and offered them cabinet level positions. Frank Sweeney was not one of them. Hilda Astor, the schoolteacher from Cantwell, would agree to be Minister of Education, since she didn't think the Commonwealth was as bad as Anarchy. John Burrows, the boat Captain from Homer was asked to be Minister of Marine Fisheries. Several people were being considered for Inland Fisheries, Wildlife and Parks, Oil and Natural Resources, Commerce and Trade, and the Minister of Justice. Lana Hart, now of Wasilla, was appointed to the office of Minister of Agriculture.

Within an hour of his swearing in at 9:00 p.m., July 1, Governor Murray abolished all of the National Monuments, and Preserves, and per the suggestion of several of his advisors, decreed that this land would be for those who volunteered to serve in the Commonwealth Military would be rewarded with acreage and a cabin. The amount of acreage depended on time served, retroactive for all current active duty personnel who served at least two more years.

Admiral Grover and Defense Minister Brubaker summoned their top officers and informed them that they would act as a decision making body similar to the former USA Joint Chiefs of Staff. Their primary mission was to decide how Alyeska would best be defended and the forces utilized. The Alyeska Defense Force was created, and all of the forces were to be consolidated, with the Navy rank titles retained for those aboard ship, and the Coast Guard becoming a part of the Navy that patrolled the coast, bays, and navigable rivers. The Air Force, Army, and Marines were to be integrated into one another as was practical. The Oath of Allegiance was scheduled to be administered between July 2nd and 3rd. Almost all of the active duty service people that stayed in Alaska elected to stay and serve in possibly the only free functional sovereign English speaking nation.

In addition, the Merchant Marine would be considered eligible for the "Act of Homestead-Service", as would the Reserves. Nine freighters and seven super tankers were found in Puget Sound, when visited by the Naval I-team and R-team, and sailed to Alyeska with skeleton crews. Sixteen Coast Guard vessels and patrol boats were brought north to patrol the coastline. These were to be crewed mostly by reservists that gave a week every three months and two days each month to patrol.

Numerous bush pilots from around the state enlisted to fly with the coastal and inland patrols as reserve pilots. They were to patrol the coastal waterways and be a force multiplier for the Patrol Boats on the major navigable rivers. Four of the smaller Coast Guard Patrol Boats were to be transferred to the Yukon. Most of the former surviving airline pilots enlisted to become transport pilots, freeing up the more experienced military pilots to transition to bombers, fighters, or other combat roles.

The elected representatives were called to Anchorage to be sworn in by the Governor on the morning of July 2nd. Rep Gary Owens of Shaktoolik, being a part-time Minister opened in prayer, and asked for the success and endurance of the fledgling Commonwealth under Divine guidance. The Congress, as they would be called for the time being, examined several Commonwealth charters and discussed and voted on several options.

The Congress consisted of the presiding Vice Governor, and the eight elected representatives, one from each region. Those regions were Southeast, South Central, Southwest, Denali (the interior), Northwest, Cook Inlet (including Kodiak and the Kenai Peninsula), Bering (the Aleutian, and Pribilof Islands, and Alaskan Peninsula), and Aurora (everything north of the Arctic Circle). Palmer was chosen for the new Capitol, which was not a big surprise, but never the less many had expected it to be Anchorage, where the Commonwealth Government chose to keep many of the new governmental offices. Palmer after all was close to Anchorage, and where the State Fair had always been held.

Until new chambers and residences could be converted from an existing resort, the Congress would hold session in the old Federal Courthouse. Peter Newberry from Ketchikan in Southeast brought forth a motion to create a Senate. Timothy Ellis from Kodiak seconded the motion. After an hour's worth of discussion, it was tabled because the other six representatives argued that Senators became too arrogant, and how many elected officials did it take to represent 39,000 people? They had just started, and wanted most of all to keep the government small.

Rep Jake Snow of Anchorage pointed out that the original Commonwealth Charters were founded upon strong Judeo Christian beliefs, and the Commonwealth of Alaska should not be an exception, for it was by God's grace that so many survived.

Rep John Mason from Galena made a motion to form a Ministry of Faith, and appoint a non-denominational man of God to fill the spot. One of the functions of the Ministry of Faith was to ensure that the government could never form a state church. The representatives recognized that the intent of the founders of the former United States intended to have God and Biblical Laws and Doctrine recognized as part of the law making of Congress but never wanted a state religious system forced on the people.

Aurora rep Nick Long of Bettles asked, "How do you find a non-denominational man of God?'

Mason replied, "He just dropped in out of the sky a few weeks back. This man has definitely been chosen to be a spiritual leader by the Almighty himself. He is definitely Christian, but he isn't Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, or anything else I have ever seen. He isn't seminary taught, but when he speaks on Sunday morning, it comes from the heart. I mean it's like the most faith inspiring church service I ever sat through."

Rep Owens added, "That does happen. The Bible says all things are possible with God. Mr. Mason, I would like to second your motion."

Mark Sellers called for a vote, "All in favor signify by raising your right hand. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... 8, the motion passes unanimously. This shall be included along with your next recommendation."

Mason spoke, "I would like to amend that it just be an advisory position, and that he can still spend most of his time in the village."

Jake Snow added, "I say we make all government elected position as 'citizen representatives' where we meet maybe once a month to conduct needed business, and go back home. I also think that we should establish mandatory lengths of service whether continuous or of a broken term. I think that three terms of two years each should be all a person can serve in a lifetime."

"Roger that," Mason agreed. "Since we have power and telephones back up, at least to our own areas, let's conduct most of the discussion part over the net. We can meet the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month except January and July."

That was put into a motion, passed and sent to Gov Murray to be signed along with the one that made Paul Kensington the Minister of Faith. Holidays were selected and would be New Years' Day, Christmas Day, Easter Break (Good Friday thru Easter Sunday, Alyeska Independence Day (July 1) Thanksgiving Day, (Memorial and Veterans Day May 31, and Sportsman's Day (1^st Friday in September). All banks and government offices were to be closed on those days.

Other items that passed before the Congress adjourned, were the establishment of a Postal Service, the establishment of a monetary system and a body to regulate it and a means of earning and spending it by credit based upon the gold reserves in the underground storage vault.

A representative, much like a Secretary of State, would be appointed to travel to Vancouver, BC, Canada, where British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavik, and Greenland were pending the formation of a new nation. Reports in from Texas, and Northern Idaho also made references to the same, joining with western Montana. The Texas referendum would not be held until August 10.

(Day 40 — July 1, 2400 hrs, Fort Worth, Texas)

"Well, the doggoned Alaskans went and formed their own country," Horace Woods said to his wife Marian, as the man came to bed from listening to the news before the radio station signed off for the night.

Marian sighed, and said, "So are we now left alone? They aren't sending anyone to help us keep from being invaded?"

From the two guest bedrooms down the hall came footsteps and a knock on their bedroom door. Marian got up and said, "I may as well put some coffee on," and put on her housecoat. Outside stood her sister Suzanne, and her daughter Heather, who had come from San Angelo after the war started and both of their husbands died from the bio-chemical attack.

"They passed it?" asked Heather, who had just gotten married three days before the attack. "At least they have some form of government other than the barrel of a gun, or some general's orders. We need to do that here, too."

"Don't get me started on that bunch that calls themselves the Republic of Texas," countered Horace. "Besides, Alaska voted to be a Commonwealth called Alyeska. The man said it meant 'Great Land' or something like that in Eskimo. I sort of feel cheated. We need to join up with Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and whoever else it takes until we are the biggest state again."

"Uncle Horace," Heather giggled, "they aren't a state anymore, so Texas is the biggest state again."

Horace grinned and said, "I knew that was a good idea on their part for some reason. Now I know why."

"Don't go getting too cocky, Horace," Marian suggested, "I don't know who, if anyone is minding our store outside of Tarrant County, and I don't recall voting for that deputy that appointed himself Sheriff."

(Day 40 — July 1, Abraham Lincoln Carrier Battle Group, Gulf of Alaska)

The Lincoln Battle Group was steadily approaching Anchorage when word came of a Russian sub on the surface in plain sight, acknowledging its presence, and proclaiming its national origin and its purpose of seeking provisions for the crew.

Admiral Handley aboard the Lincoln said to inform the sub that they were headed to port for the same reason and had none to spare, but wished the sub luck, and asked if he needed assistance to make port. The sub captain declined, and turned west.

The radio operators reported to Admiral Handley that they had picked up radio chatter from Anchorage and Ketchikan telling of the election to form an independent Commonwealth. He wondered just what was going on? He considered the fact that all up and down the West Coast, they had heard only hostile broadcasts proclaiming, "the death of America." At least the ones coming from Alaska sounded like they might be friendly.

Admiral Handley turned to Capt Roth and then said; "Admiral Kitchens said they took on fuel and food, so we should be able to also. Now that they have declared independence from the US, do you think they will try to commandeer us while we are in port? Besides, if we don't stay on friendly terms, that Russian might turn them against us."

Roth replied, "I listened to a broadcast last night, and it sounds like they intend to make the place like the US was before all the Socialists got into the government. It's worth looking into, Admiral. They do have the oil we need to keep going."

(Day 40 — July 1, Tucson, Arizona)

Aware of the Chinese forces moving into California from Yuma and Mexicali, an emergency contingent R-team was sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to recover everything they could. The six A-10's would come in handy in Texas for that front, but of most interest was making sure the industriously resourceful Chinese didn't take possession of the "bone yard" where the retired planes were stored, scrapped, and salvaged. A team of 300 aircraft mechanics and assigned helpers had arrived by what was now being called "the subway" five days before, and had reclaimed five B-52-D's. They were old workhorses for sure, but in the hands of the Mexicans or Chinese would be devastating to friendly forces and infrastructure.

Also recovered were six F-4G Phantom II, two F-106's, a third SR-71, four KC-135E tankers, and several spare engines for the aforementioned planes. The SR-71 would be flown to Texas that evening, as a vanguard to offer it to the forces there for reconnaissance of threatening forces. At Dyess Air Force Base, Gen Arthur Selfridge met with Col Peterson from Alaska, who advised him of the salvage from the bone yard at Davis-Monthan, and then showed him the file with the information about the transcontinental "subway" system, before taking him into his own portion of the tunnels.

Just as Gen Brubaker had been, Selfridge was amazed at the Black Ops project. Gen Selfridge gathered another 212 women and men to add to the R-Team at Davis-Monthan, and briefed them on the mission at hand, as the F4's and F-106's arrived. Col Peterson then made contact with the Colonel in charge of the 4^th ID from Fort Hood, with a request to see his Commanding Officer.

Two hours later, they arrived at the fort and Peterson met General Frank George. They retired to his office and Peterson asked the general what he knew about any Black Ops projects on the fort? At first Gen George eyed him suspiciously, and tried to dismiss him.

Peterson then asked, "What I am referring to, General, is an underground bunker and tunnel system that connects bases all over the Continental US and Alaska."

The general laughed, "Colonel, you Air Force boys might have time to entertain those conspiracy theories like that, but right now I have to consolidate what we salvaged from Fort Bliss, and Fort Sam Houston, and try to find a way to keep over a hundred thousand Mexican troops from wiping us out. All you Air Force boys did in New Mexico was to scatter them and chase them back to Albuquerque. Granted, that bought us some time, but they are still on our soil!"