Chapter 1 - The Dust Settles
April 4th 2021
The last year had been a whirlwind of farming and death as the Covid-19 virus swept through the United States of America. When the dust finally settled in the spring of 2021 a crap ton of people were dead and everything had gone to hell. Throughout what was once the great state of Kansas people were finally taking stock of where they stood and what they needed to do in order to survive.
Through the Chaos in Topeka disgraced former governor Sam Brownback had shrewdly gained control by showing up to an empty legislative chamber and proclaiming himself leader of the new Brownbackistan Republic by banging a gavel and putting out a press release on December 31st. Shortly after he mobilized the national guard and now controlled everything in the former state of Kansas east of HWY 281 and had recently started sending “Aid” squadrons into NE/MO/IA/OK.
The winter of farming had been hard on city boy Ben JI but his hopes were raised when he found an old CB radio in the quonset building that winter. After months of no news he finally got it running in early April and that's how he first heard word about the new government in Topeka. While randomly searching the radio dials one day he heard a familiar voice.
“Sorry SD Dad, I just greased the zerks that I could reach easily, I didn’t think missing a couple of zerks would cause our tractor to break down and ruin all of our seed sorghum”
“Its alright son” SD Dad said “You’ve been living in the big city for a while and probably just forgot what I taught you”
Just then the CB Crackled with the ferocity of a chuck norris roundhouse kick.
“Ben Ji to SD, Do you copy OVER”
SD was startled by the farm trucks horn honking and almost crapped his pants. He regained his composure and wondered if this was the same Ben Ji that he had once conversed with on gE.
“Go for SD OVER” he said before releasing the mike.
“This is Ben Ji, owner of Lady and Milo. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and think I may have a solution. We have plenty of Sorghum seed up here in the NW territories but are running low on Fuel to plant it. You wouldn’t happen to have any extra fuel to trade for seed would you? OVER”
As luck would have it there was plenty of black market fuel being smuggled into the SW territories by former Koch employees and the SD family tanks were full to the brim.
“Good to hear from you Ben Ji” SD spoke enthusiastically into the mike “We do have some excess fuel here in the SW territories and are in need of some sorghum seed to keep our cow farm running and the local populace happy with our leadership. What do you propose OVER”
Fuel had been scarce for the last 3 months in the NW territories so this was music to Ben Ji’s ears.
“Meet me at the Scott City COOP in 2 days. I think we can make a deal. Ben Ji OUT”
STAY TUNED FOR CHAPTER 2 - The Meeting in Scott City
