Cyber Warfare and the New World Order

Reckoning

Jose was nervous. Cell phones were still down; he had no way to contact his wife. He peeked out the blinds; a group of squad cars was now parked outside his building, creating a blockade.

The mayor turned to Officer Jayko. “So, are our defenses here all set up then?” he asked.

“As best as they can be under the circumstances, yes Sir,” he replied.

Mayor Perez paced back and forth nervously. Minutes that seemed like hours melted along. Jose was lost in thought. “Is there anything else that I can do right now? What am I forgetting?” he wondered.

A loud pop broke the silence. To Jose it sounded like a car backfiring. He rushed to the window to see what it was. He was greeted by the unpleasant sight of Japanese and Chinese infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, rushing towards his position. That initial pop was followed by several more as each side began to open fire.

“Sir, get down!” yelled Officer Jayko, grabbing the mayor and pulling him to the floor.

Just as he was hitting the deck, the mayor saw a rocket being launched towards the police officers below. The building shook as the projectile exploded. Jose shuddered; the police were clearly outgunned.

The mayor was not a particularly religious person; he hadn’t been to church except for Christmas and Easter in a very long time. However, in that moment, he realized that it was very likely that his death was imminent, and he began to pray fervently for forgiveness. Then he grabbed a pen and wrote a quick note to his wife. “Querida, I know that I have not been the man that you deserve, but I do love you with my whole heart. I want for you to be happy in this life.” There was so much more to say, but he just couldn’t think of the words. This would have to do. He put the note in his pocket.

There was a long, raucous pause. The curiosity in Jose wanted to know what was going on, but at the same time, he was just trying to block everything out.

The noises got closer. It sounded like there might be gunfire down the hall. The mayor checked his surroundings; he was already situated behind a desk. He reached up and grabbed a lamp to use as a weapon. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Everything else faded away for a moment.

The JDF had been outside the office door, unable to enter because of the barricade of furniture that Officer Jayko and his colleagues had put in front of the door. Finally, someone came up the stairs with a battering ram, and they were inside within mere seconds.

Officer Jayko managed to take out two of the Japanese soldiers immediately as they entered the door. He ducked lower behind the desk as they returned fire. One of the other police officers popped up from behind the mayor’s armchair long enough to get off a couple of shots; he managed to severely injure two Japanese soldiers, but he paid for it with his life. His limp body slumped down next to the mayor.

Adrenaline flooded through Mayor Perez’s veins, but he was strangely very focused. As the JDF soldiers suddenly surrounded him, guns pointed at him, he knew one thing — he wasn’t going down without a fight.

Jose grabbed the gun from the fallen police officer next to him and shot at the closest Japanese soldier. Somehow, even though he had never fired a gun in his life, he managed to hit the soldier in the head. It was his last and final act. The JDF opened fire, and he was gone.