Chilly in The Lone Start State

[PresidentDavid]

 

"-reports that the worst of the storms are yet to come. Texas is going to get a beating, I can tell you that Sandy." The view of the weatherman switched over to a semi-professional local reporter who did her best to impress the audience. "Thank you for that weather update, I'm sure you'll keep us upda-" the television was turned off by John's assistance whose face was pail. "Sir, the Director of Public Safety is here.... He has some news for you." Governor Lawrence stood up from his desk and put on his jacket, "Why'd he have to come here to the Governor's Mansion; why didn't he just call me from the capital?" His assistant, Samantha, didn't answer and guided him out of his office downstairs to where the Director was waiting. 

 

"Colonel," said John as he extended his hand to shake the director's hand. "It's good to see you. Why'd you make your way out here? What's going on?" The Colonel, Richard Davis, took off his hat and chose his words carefully. "Something's happened sir... It's Dallas and Fort Worth." John began to get concerned, "What about Dallas and Fort Worth?" The Colonel was actually somewhat intimidated by his friend at this moment and handed him a piece of paper. "Dallas and Fort Worth just went dark. Half of North Texas just lost its electricity." John took it in for a moment as a few of his aides and advisers gathered around the two to listen in. 

 

"Richard, get back to your office at the capitol and get in contact with the mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth and find out what they need. Get me some type of hotline to the both of them and then call up those cities National Guard regiments into service. I'll handle the rest of the State's in a bit." 

"Yes governor," said the colonel as he quickly exited the executive mansion to head back to downtown Austin. "Samantha, get in touch with Ellington Field in Houston and Love Field in Dallas and make sure they establish communications via the State MCC." Samantha was confused, "MCC? What's that?" John hesitated, "It's classified. They'll know what it means. Now go." Samantha ran off to her office next to the governor's as John turned to his press secretary, "Get the press organized. I'm going to be giving a speech tonight." His press secretary ran off which finally left him alone for a few moments to get out his phone.

 

He dialed his friend's cell and it almost immediately picked up, "Lieutenant Governor," he said formally as he heard a bit of static on his second-in-command's side of the line, "Hey John. I just heard what happened. I'm on my way back to the capitol building. Can you believe it's snowing here, in Austin? This isn't flurries John... This is snow." The governor walked over to a window and the sitting room he was in and looked outside do see massive snowflakes falling from the sky. "Christ," he muttered unbelievably, "how often does it get like this down here?" John was from Amarillo and was accustomed to snow but hadn't seen anything like this in his previous visits to the capitol city. "This is the coldest it's ever been in my life time - same goes for the snow. The weatherman called it an 'arctic blast' a few minutes ago on CNN. None of the big three have reported on the power out yet. I'm sure it's only a matter of minutes." 

"Right right, I need you to call the Senate into emergency session and give the order on my behalf for the House of Representatives. I want them all here in twenty-four hours, including representatives from Dallas and Fort Worth - I don't care what it takes to get them here just find a way."

"Ten-four John, I'll call you back with results." 

Edited November 26, 2013 by PresidentDavid

[PresidentDavid]

"You look great Governor, don't worry about your tie; I'll fix it," Samantha straightened John's tie and stepped back before jumping. "Oh I almost forgot!" She reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out a small Texas flag pin. "You have to 'represent' Governor. I'm sure you'll make national news in some way tonight. Look sharp." John didn't need to hear that he was going to be on national news. He liked leading and he even liked speeches from time to time but big things like this, in front of a joint-session of congress and millions of Americans and Texans with electricity was different. "Knock them dead sir." Samantha left his room to give him a few minutes alone before he made his way over to the capital building. After readjusting his tie he stepped out of his room only to find his aide holding a hot cup of hot chocolate. "Thank you Samantha," he said as they walked down the grand staircase to the first floor of the governor's mansion, "Would you like to accompany me to the capital?" Samantha blushed and nodded, "I would be honored sir." 

 

Two Navy National Guardsmen stood at attention at the main entrance to the mansion and opened two massive doors to the freezing cold outside. It wasn't until that point that John remembered it was actually snowing in Austin and it was sticking to the ground and actually becoming a hazard for the unexperienced drivers of the city. "This is amazing," he said, shaking his head as a blast of cold air smashed into the two of them.

 

His motorcade zoomed off with the two of them. John though it'd be a good time to make a call to the Lieutenant Governor. "I never got a call back from you Stephen, I hope that is in some way a good sign?" There was a bit of mumbling on the other side like he was trying to talk to someone else and then he replied, "Yes Governor, I actually do have good news. We got everyone except Armstrong from Amarillo. Part of it was because he was in the most isolated part of the State considering runways were layered in ice and there was no electricity and he also... didn't want to leave." John sat back, "Damn it old man Armstrong... He's stubborn as a mule." The governor sighed, "Let me finish," said Stephen gleefully, "I told him we'd give Amarillo an extra $500,000 from the rainy-day fund and he jumped to his feet and came back with a National Guard chopper! He should be back before you speak... But he is going to be here."

 

"Thanks Stephen, I'm happy you got everyone here. It's important that we look united."

"No problem governor." John hung up and leaned his head back against the cold back wind-shield of the limo. "Thank God for Stephen Samantha. Thank God for Stephen." The limo began to slow down Flashes of light erupted around the limo which made John sigh again. "Damn media." The driver came around and opened their door. John first got out and then helped Samantha out which got a few hundred extra pictures for the two. He escorted her up towards the massive steps of the capital but they both stopped dead in their tracks when a helicopter fluttered overhead. Instead of landing, a soldier dropped down from a rope with a man harnessed to him. "Take him!" shouted the soldier over the chopper's blades. "He's your problem now!"

 

John unharnessed the old man and gave him his cane which the National Guardsman was holding. The cameras went nuts while the governor wiped off his mentor's jacket. "It's good to see your Senator Armstrong. How was your ride?" Armstrong cracked his back and then his neck. "It was a military helicopter ride from Amarillo to Austin. It was the most unpleasant trip of my life you wippersnapper. Now lets get inside before all these people keelover in the cold." John and Samantha followed Armstrong. "He gets grumpy in the cold," whispered John. The two of them snickered. Meanwhile, the capitol was packed.