Supply or Die

Originally we planned to have enough resources to last us and the surrounding area for a four month period, give or take word of mouth travelers that would increase the amount of people we would need to support. This would give us enough time to hold our own and to start developing our cause in the central blackout zone. By the time we started running low, our fringe sects would resupply us with enough food, water, and additional technology to keep our operations running. When the fringe sects never showed, our plans went down the drain.

This turn of events transformed our thoughts from outward to inward. We now needed to make sure we had enough supplies to keep Us alive, rather than everyone surrounding us. The propaganda that we streamed before the blackout scorched our name in the public's mind. Our savior was that our headquarters looked like any building within the city. All of the operations took place underneath the building, above, it was a deserted. Had they found a way in, all of us would be dead. We kept some firearms for emergencies, but it was never our intent to rule by force. There was definitely not enough firepower to fend off an massive front of pissed off Americans.

Inevitably, our supplies dwindled, leaving us no option but to scour the surrounding areas for more food. This proved to be a daunting task since we were getting such a late start. We knew most of the area would have been looted by now and that we would need to branch out to the suburb areas to look for goods. We hoped most of these areas would be clear and that we would be in and out.

We picked Crystal Springs, a high class neighborhood in the area. Even if these areas had been ransacked, we were hoping that the houses had been stocked well enough that there would still be some goods available. We also figured that the rich inhabitants would be the first to clear out in the chaos. I was one of ten who volunteered to make the supply run. The others would hold down headquarters and maintain communication with us if something were to go wrong. Not that they would be much help, but they would know if the mission was a success or not.

Ten of us split up between two cargo vans that we had parked in an underground garage that was connected to our facility. The vans had been maintained throughout the years and started up with no hesitation. Generators were then fired up to lift the heavy steel garage door to the outside world. Scouts in the upper levels of the building signaled to us that the way was clear for our escape. The last thing we wanted was someone to see our location and that we had working technology. The longer we remained outside the base, the more of a risk we became.

Jeremy and Randy, the two mechanics that had maintained the cargo vans as well as the other two cars we possessed were chosen as the drivers for the mission. Each having a lot more driving experience than anyone involved and it also ensured that if anything went wrong with the vans we had two knowledgeable mechanics with us to address the problem. Both men had agreed that we would stop for nothing until we reached our destination, keeping in close proximity of each other and traveling at a rapid rate.

Crystal Springs was a twenty minute drive from our facility and we made it in fifteen, due to no other traffic on the road escape for abandoned vehicles. This was also our first real glimpse of life outside the city. As we had hoped, Crystal Springs was a ghost town. Some of the houses had been lit on fire, while others looked as if they'd never been touched. We decided to break into teams of two and Jeremy and Randy would stay with the vans. Each man was given a handgun back at the base to protect the vans if need be. There was a thirty minute cut off period, since we hadn't done this before and we wanted to get our feet wet for future scavenger hunts. Grab anything that could prove useful and any sort of edible food items, then get out. Needless to say, all of us were scared witless whether we let on to it or not.

I was paired up with Lisa, a lab assistant at a chemical research facility before the fall. We raced toward a large two story white house with a four car garage, shattered bay window and a slightly scorched roof from a house fire next door. Other than the busted window and a charred shingles, the house looked untouched. The inside of the house proved the opposite.

...

Unfortunately I have to end this entry here. I've been called upon to work on a technical issue our transmission department is having. I must report or I run the risk of looking suspicious.

-Mr. Verity

The Rise and Fall of ARC

ARC was originally built upon the foundation that we would come together to change the world. Not as the leaders, but as the spark and guides to start the flame of reform. We had no intentions on leading the people, but rather to open their eyes to what they had become and to aid their journey to new horizons.

Our backgrounds ranged from office cleaners to nuclear physicists. This gave us holds in every structure and organization we needed to launch the nukes. We had branches from coast to coast. The coastal branches made up the fringe sects that would have access to more functioning technology than the small amount our centralized front would have in the hardest hit blackout zone. We all believed in the simple cause of a life without pop culture being shoved down our throats, religious groups putting their thoughts into our lifestyles, a government that promised gold but delivered dirt, an upper echelon that seemed to be building a bridge through the middle class and over the poor. We wanted to change all of this.

We knew our peaceful message was strong and thought the majority would be on board. The country seemed to be at turmoil with itself and the time was right for revolution. Other groups that wanted change were too small and unorganized, or held beliefs that would lead to further degradation of America. ARC had been planted and growing for years, secretly rooting within the country. The time to bloom was upon us.

The beginning of the disintegration of ARC came when our fringe divisions turned their backs on the cause after the initial chaos broke out. We'll never know exactly what happened to those branches, but in the two years that have passed we've never seen or heard from them. Maybe things were worst in the fringe areas due to the partially functioning technology, or maybe they used that to their advantage and decided to pursue their own cause like everyone else had decided to do. Whatever it was, it put the heart of ARC at risk. We were counting on the fringe sects to bring in much needed supplies for the rebuilding phase of the operation. We had counted on the fact that we would be able to supply the masses during the most stressful parts of the restart to gain their trust.This trust was an essential part of the regrowth, without it there would be no way of proving that ARC was not a threat.

Instead, we were forced to keep them out and at bay since we were now left high and dry without supplies or any new technology. We needed to hold our own, or lose everything. A fact that keeps encroaching on us day by day. ARC is now viewed as the reason America has fallen, a dictatorship that is trying to control the masses. In essence, everything we never wanted to be.

-Mr. Verity

Early Attempts

I was able to obtain these pictures from an ARC circular, early on we tried to keep the masses informed on the current state of the country. Mostly to try and convert them from hysteria to peace, to show them they animals the had become. Unfortunately, the attempts were futile and due to limited supplies our circular is now kept within ARC and destroyed upon reading. I'll try to get more soon, it's imperative for all of you to see what's going on here.

-Mr. Verity

It All Started with Such Precision

I apologize for my brief introduction last time, but I had to make sure I didn't get noticed.

I've been building my "safe room" for months, surprisingly the working computer was the easy part, given our current state. I was able to protect mine during the blasts, as was everyone apart of ARC (America Rebirth Coalition). We were able to keep the technology to ensure our success. We were up and running through the whole thing, streaming our cause across your TVs, radios, computers, and anything else that was meant to control you. We wanted to show you what America had become, a wake up call, and what we thought a call to arms. We started everything forty-five seconds before detonation, enough time to keep you distracted from the nuclear blast.

Our facility was stationed in the epicenter of the blackout. We would start the message of peace in the center and spread out to areas that still had some working technology. By then, we figured we'd be at our strongest following. Hoping our numbers and message would help convince the others to join our cause, a new America. One of peace, art, self expression, thought, everything we thought old America didn't represent. What we didn't count on, was that everyone would seize the time to pursue their hearts desires.

We were responsible for creating a nightmare.

Those who loved their lives in old America revolted, murderers roamed freely, doomsday cults prevailed, militias finally had the open country they'd always desired, anything and everything you could imagine was yours for the doing. Without proper communications and coordination, organizations like fire departments and police stations failed quickly in the chaos. The Army lasted longer than we thought they would, but soon they fell like the other authoritarians. The people claimed the land, but not as a whole. You claim it, you keep it, until someone comes along and claims it from you.

Most of the world readers have little to no idea what's really going on in America these days. ARC has maintained transmission of their cause, but no one is exactly sure who's listening these days. Early reports were shown across the world, but most foreign reporters went missing after the fall. America remained untouched due to the unknown situation going on inside.

In the little time I've had my safe zone established, I have looked for others out there, I've yet to find a single voice. I'm sure if there are any, they're reading and not talking to remain hidden and alive. This is why I have decided to step forward and reclaim our original cause. To give the world the inside view of what needs to happen.

I have touched on a lot in a short amount of time, but I'll have to leave it there for now. I'm still not sure of my safety in my safe room, I have to keep these sessions brief. This also means that my messages will come in bursts and popping up at all hours of the day. Stay tuned Utopian dreamers, the fire is blazing in the belly of the beast.

-Mr. Verity

Here's where we stand...

or at least this is how it was supposed to play out. I know many of you on the fringes may be reading this, but even if you're not, I have to get the word out. Times are desperate and the truth needs to be unveiled finally.

What was once thought of as a Utopian future, now stands in the ashes of reality. Most of these entries will be frank and to the point, not by choice but by necessity. By voicing my views (especially from the inside) I could be silenced in an instant. The irony of that situation is too much for me to comment on, but I want all of you to know that some of us are still fighting for the dream.

From here out, you can refer to me as Mr. Verity.