Arthur Wellesley of the Central Bank continued, “I asked the European Council of Foreign Relations for satellite photos. Apparently, the construction materials are loaded onto barges and shipped to ports in the Mediterranean. Then the cargo is transferred to other ships, delivering the cargo directly to the American Empire. Our satellites cannot see the destination point, but their destination is South America. Amount of cargo ships is astounding, forming almost a continuous line of ships that stretch from Europe to South America.”
The Prime Minister from Britain, Ramsay MacDonald, quickly stood up and hurled his empty glass at the wall behind him. Sharp shards of glass exploded along the wall.
“God damn him.” Ramsey screamed. Then he sat down and regained his composure. Then he added, “I apologize for my rude interruption, but Jerrick Davis had turned into one pain in the ass. He has a stranglehold over the world, and we cannot do anything about it. If we shut down the cargo export, then we hurt ourselves. Our construction industries shut down, and we throw a bunch of people out of work. If we allow Mr. Davis to continue, then he plays us like a bunch of suckers, building his damn Empire with our own workers, with our own money.”
Arthur Wellesley continued, “The Prime Minister is correct. We face that dilemma. We have more disturbing news. Many unemployed Europeans are sneaking onto the ships heading to South America, searching for work. They think construction jobs will be plentiful for a long time because the blasted Empire will add more countries in South America.”
The Prime Minister from France, Léon Blum, asked, “What do you propose we do?”
“Right now, we go along with it. We tax the construction industry and tax our exports of construction materials. Then we use that money to expand our armed forces. Ladies and gentlemen, I hate to say it, but sooner or later, the Empire will expand into Europe. We take this bad situation and use it for our gain. If we do nothing, then we’ll be working for Mr. Davis. Eventually, Mr. Davis will set his sights on Europe.”
President studied the stunned faces sitting in the room. He warned them that he would toss bad news into their laps. They thought it would be a hot potato. Instead, it was a red, hot piece of molten steel.
***
Colombia has been a hot bed of terroristic activities since the 1960s. Radicals used guerrilla warfare against the Colombian government. They hid in the thick, dense jungles, and, occasionally, crawled out to assassinate government officials or blow up a government building.
One infamous group was the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC by its Spanish acronym. Commander of FARC, Manuel Marulanda, sat behind his desk in his jungle hut and stared at everyone with fiery hazel eyes. He stood at five feet five with black curly hair that touched the lapel of his green military uniform. He always donned a Green Beret cap on his head, and regularly trimmed his black beard and mustache.
Towards his right, a poster of Che Guevara hung from the wall. Jungle’s humidity and dampness caused the poster to blister and blemish.
Manuel Marulanda looked exactly like Che Guevara while his followers thought he was the reincarnation of Che Guevara.
Manuel was not angry about the invasion per se. He became furious that President Davis harmed his organization financially. After President Davis had legalized marijuana and low-level barbiturates and amphetamines, FARC lost their main income source because Manuel controlled the illegal cocaine drug trade and supervised the drug labs, scattered throughout the jungle.
Now, Americans avoided cocaine and used the legal drugs instead.
His captain burst into the hut, “Sir, I have great news. Our contact in the Colombian government has just confirmed President Davis's visit to Colombian. Sir; he’s coming to Colombia.”
Manuel just sat there while his eyes became fiery and crazy ideas swam in his dead.
A large beaming smile slowly crept across Manuel’s face, and he uttered, “Captain, you know what to do.”
The Captain saluted Manuel Marulanda and dashed out of the hut to round up his men.
FARC had planned a nasty surprise for the President.
***
On Monday, April 4, 2033, President Davis arrived in Bogotá, Colombia to inspect his projects.
The President’s procession left the Tequendana International Airport in Bogotá. The Empire’s army surrounded the President’s limousine with jeeps and trucks, forming a protective shell.
Colombia’s paramilitary organizations circulated rumors they would strike and kill President Davis if he came to Colombia.
The President’s procession rushed by a neighborhood filled with abandoned buildings.
KABOOM! A large explosion filled the silent air.
FARC planted explosives inside one of the buildings. They also constructed a metal wall inside the building that directed the blast outward into the street. Subsequently, they placed boxes of nails on one side of bomb so the explosive force would fling these nails into the air, converting them into debris of death.
Jeep to the left side of the President’s limousine took most the impact. The explosion killed four soldiers instantly and shredded the jeep into ragged pieces of steel.
Flying shrapnel injured and killed several soldiers sitting in the other jeeps. Pockmarks and dents from the flying shrapnel covered the left side of the President’s limousine.
However, the President sat safely in his bullet-proof limousine.
After the explosion, the procession turned around and sped to the airport.
The President’s phone immediately rang, and the President picked it up.
“Mr. President?”
The President recognized Richard’s voice immediately.
“Yes, Richard.”
“Are you okay? I just heard about the bomb explosion.”
“That was fast. It happened 30 seconds ago. I am okay, but my ears are ringing badly.”
“Mr. President, please get on a plane and return home.”
“Richard, I cannot do that. I must oversee Colombia’s development. Please do not tell my wife.”
“Sir; it’s too late. Everyone in Washington, D.C. knows about the attack. Word travels fast about your safety.”
“Richard, I’m okay!”
“Mr. President; please return to Washington. You’re our leader. Your safety is important to the Empire because you’re the Empire. What will become of us if terrorists kill you?”
The President let out a long sigh and mumbled, “Okay Richard; I will return.”
Richard was right; he was the leader, who kept everyone and everything together. American Empire would be doomed if the leader had perished.
Then Richard asked, “What do you want us to do?”
“Put a $10 million bounty on the heads of the people, who did this. Then have the military systematically sweep the jungles with infrared cameras and detain anyone they find in the jungle. If they shoot at the soldiers or helicopters, then I grant you the authority to shoot back.”
“Yes sir; I’m coming down there as soon as possible and personally oversee the mission.”
“Thank you Richard,” and the President hung up the phone.
Then the President’s phone rang again.
“Hello.”
“Jerrick, are you okay?”
Jerrick heard the first lady’s voice, crackled from fear and tears.
Jerrick tried to soothe her, “Thalia; I am okay except my ears are ringing.”
“Jerrick, please come home.”
“Okay, I will come home. Please stop worrying about me. I am okay.”
“Here, Aric wants to talk to you.”
Thalia passed the phone to her son.
“Hey little guy, I am okay.”
“Daddy, are you coming home?”
“Of course, I am. I should be there in 15 hours.”
“Daddy, mommy and me are worried about you. Come home, daddy!”
“I know. That is why I am returning home. Just hang tight, and I will be there i
n no time. I love you Aric. Please put your mom back on the phone.”
“Jerrick?”
“Thalia, please do not worry. I am fine. Richard will come down to search for the culprits. Okay! Everything will be fine!”
“I love you Jerrick.”
“Yes; I know Thalia. Ditto! I will be there shortly,” and the President hung up the phone.
***
Richard Woodland arrived to Colombia and combed the jungles for the armed guerrillas. He always shook his head at their stupidity. Richard conducted night raids, commanding a fleet of 20 helicopters and flying in tight formation over an area.
Jungles provided a dense protective cover for them because the Colombian government couldn’t afford infrared technology. However, the Empire didn’t have a problem. Rebels made their worst decision by hiding in the jungles.
Infrared cameras were sensitive; any warm object brightened up the dark screen of the camera with a red dot. If a jungle cat crapped in the woods, the cameras would pick up the steam from the excrement.
Occasionally, the helicopters flew over an area, where a group of men camped out. For some reason, they always fired up at the helicopters as if this act would bring down the almighty flying death machines.
Then the helicopters returned fire with their M230 guns as the 30-millimeter caliber bullets left large, cavernous holes in their body.
That suited Richard just fine. He admired their courage to leave the world fighting. At least, the Empire wouldn’t waste money for their court trials. Empire’s troops would slaughter the rebels like pigs for attacking their Great Leader.
Richard sat at the gunner’s bay and fired at the rebels. After he had shot the rebels, the helicopters would land, and Empire’s troops would search the area. Richard saw the dead never had identification. They photographed the rebels’ faces and confiscated their weapons. Then they buried the rebels in the jungle in unmarked graves.
***
One night, Manuel camped with his soldiers in the jungle because it was too dangerous to stay at his hut in the jungle.
Jungle was pitch black. Birds chirped in the trees while small animals scurried along the ground.
In the distance, Manuel heard a strange buzzing sound, becoming louder as a group of helicopters approached his camp.
In Spanish, Manuel screamed at his soldiers, “Get your guns! The Empire is coming!”
Next, the Empire’s soldiers filled the dark jungle night with rifle fire as bullets rained down on Manuel’s soldiers. Bullets whizzed angrily through the air, illuminating their path with a red glow.
As Manuel turned, he saw the chest of his captain explode as a large 30-caliber bullet penetrated through his flesh.
Manuel dropped his rifle and ran.
He ran for several miles in the cool jungle night until he hid in a small cave. Occasionally, those fiery eyes peeked from the hole, searching for signs of the Empire's troops.
President Davis had won this round because he was alive and still breathing.
***
After a month, Richard gave up. No one turned the culprits in to get the reward money, and they no longer found gunmen roaming in the jungles.
Jerrick’s special force shot and buried 111 gunmen in the jungles of Colombia that month.
It didn’t matter. An organization like FARC was finished because they earned no income from the illegal drug trade. They couldn’t import illegal guns anymore because the Empire controlled all trade coming in and out of the Americas.
The FARC soldiers left the jungles and searched for good-paying jobs. Economic prosperity always chills the violence and hatred of men, converting them into hard-working citizens again.
***
After three years President Davis invoked his policy of hacking into Europe’s banks and counterfeiting the Euro, the Europeans shut down their construction industries.
The Europeans leaders became sick to their stomachs because they didn’t want to finance the expansion of the American Empire. They collected taxes to fund their military expansion, but a recession swept through Europe after their construction industries shut down.
President Davis did not mind one bit.
Mexico grew fast and started contributing tax revenue to Davis’ government. American Empire’s brush with bankruptcy disappeared as the Empire’s finances grew strongly again.
The President no longer needed European products to fund their expansion, and he added Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador to the Empire.
Similar to Venezuela, Panama, and Colombia, the Latin Americans liked the change in the management because they grew tired of their own corrupt politicians, who always said things became better while they stole everything that wasn’t nailed down.
With the new leaders, they did not steal or expropriate other people’s property. President Davis paid his people well, and, in return, he demanded dedication and hard work.
***
On December 23, 2034, the President returned to Washington, D.C. for Christmas. He sat on the sofa in the center in the Yellow Oval Room, a private room for the President and his family. His wife and son sat with him.
Logs in the fireplace hissed and crackled as the fire consumed them.
The President observed Aric and was surprised he was already nine years old and quite inquisitive. He always asked questions.
“Daddy, what’s an Empire?”
That question threw Jerrick Davis off because he never thought about the definition of an empire.
He paused and scratched his chin. Then he answered, “An empire is a country with a strong military that adds more land and people from conquered countries. I guess an Empire is a school bully who beats up the weaker kids.”
“But dad; my teacher says bullies are bad. They shouldn’t do that. My teacher says it’s wrong.”
Jerrick glanced at Thalia, and she smirked.
Jerrick continued, “It is wrong, but that is what an Empire does. It expands, so it can grow and become bigger. It becomes a means of survival.”
“A bigger bully means it can beat up on more people.”
“I guess it does.”
“Dad, does an empire ever get weak?”
“Yes, they do. In time, our Empire will crumble, but hopefully that will happen centuries after our deaths.”
“Mom says you’re the king of the Empire. What do you do?”
“I tell other people what to do, and they do it?”
“What happens if they don’t do it?”
“ Let’s just say I do not have a problem in that area.”
“But dad, some kids in class don’t listen to the teacher.”
“What does your teacher do?”
“She punishes them.”
“There you go. I can punish people too, but people are afraid of my punishment.”
“How do you punish people?”
“Let’s just say some years ago, I did some terrible, evil things. Everybody knows about it, and they are scared of me.”
“Do you want people scared of you?”
“Yes and no. Fear is there, but I can also be kind and generous too. That way, they love me like a strict father, who looks out for them.”
Aric slid off the couch, opened a large, translucent plastic box containing hundreds of dominoes, and started arranging the dominoes to construct a small city.
Thalia scooted next to Jerrick, and she laid her head on his shoulder. Then she stated, “He takes after you.”
“I do see a strong resemblance. He is just like me when I was a kid except the problems I had in school.”
After Jerrick and Thalia had watched their son put together a small city, Thalia spoke up, “Jerrick, I know you are always busy, but why don’t you take Aric outside and play in the fresh snow. He wants to build a snowman.”
“I guess you are right. I am always away or always working. Come on Aric, let’s go outside.”
His boy was excited and ran to his room to get
his jacket, hat, and gloves.
After 15 minutes, a sniper from the Homeland Security announced into his microphone, “Sir, we have activity on the South Lawn at the Whitehouse, roger.”
Dispatch relayed a message to all agents in the area, “Please be advised for suspicious activity on the Whitehouse lawn.”
Sniper looked closer through his binoculars and added, “Sir, it’s the President and his kid. They’re throwing snowballs at each other. Ooh! Kid nailed the President in the face with a snowball.”
“I wish I saw that,” the dispatcher replied and then continued, “End the alert. The President is playing with his kid.”
Dispatcher thought if anyone else had hit the President in the face with a snowball, that person would never see the next sunrise. No one can disrespect their leader, and then live to talk about it.
If the President did not want that person harmed, people have a way of disappearing around here.
***
American Empire continued to thrive and grow.
President Davis added the remaining South American countries to the Empire, except Argentina and Chile. He kept these last two countries as a gift.
As the President predicted, the government had trouble administering. He divided the Empire into three districts based on language. Brazil formed their own district; Mexico and Spanish-speaking countries became the second district while the third district became the English-speaking people of the former United States.
President Davis opened a new chapter in history by building a new government capitol in Mexico City that encircled the Aztec ruins. He relocated the top level of his government there.
President Davis thought about moving the Whitehouse from Washington, DC to Mexico City but decided against it. The Whitehouse had historical significance to U.S.-Americans, and he left it there. Besides, he loved roaming the hallways and corridors in the Whitehouse, lost in deep thought as he passed portraits of the famous U.S. Presidents.
The President’s top people aged, and some had died. General of the Army, Edwards, died in 2040, and Secretary of Homeland Security, Richard Woodland in 2043. They both died of natural causes. The President conferred both of them, Distinguished Citizens of the American Empire and gave his companions a hero’s burial.
Although the Empire had achieved peace, the rest of the world was building up their militaries. Eventually, the Empire’s military would cross the oceans, expanding the Empire.