The Decay

Chapter 29 - The Colonel

29

… May 11th, 2135…

Joshua felt an immense pride as the crowd clapped. Having been promoted, Colonel Joshua Callaghan was virtually the youngest colonel by more than a decade. Times had change since the official U.S. Government and Army had collapsed back in 2068. It had happened almost immediately after the nuclear disaster. In truth, there was no total collapse. His own father had served in the army from when he was 20 till his retirement at age 51 in 2133 due to illness, at which point he had already been a general. It was this that had got Joshua up the ranks quickly, particularly because the majority of the army had been wiped out in 2068.

After the nuclear disaster and the official collapse, the high-ranking government and army officials who had survived by accessing fallout shelters hours before the disaster, got together to continue operations underground. Protocol Y3-X had been designed for apocalyptic disasters in which an underground base located on Snake Island was to be used for all government operations. Recruitment of new personnel had been difficult, secretive and highly selective, but over the years a new army began to form. Joshua's father had been recruited thanks to his excellent tactical abilities and, lacking staff, this had landed him a high-ranking position at a young age.

After a brief speech, the U.S president walked up to the stage and shook Joshua's hand while posing for the audience. After a moment, he turned to Joshua, his facial expression now a more serious one. “In 30 minutes, meet me in my office. I need to discuss something with you and it's extremely urgent.” Joshua looked him in the eyes and nodded briefly. “Your father would have been proud,” he added before stepping down from the stage, sitting back down in his front-row chair.

At the end of the small ceremony, Joshua stepped down from the small stage, the new eagle-shaped insignia attached to this jacket. In the front row was also the general of the U.S army. He didn't let it on much, but he was proud of Joshua. Ever since his father's illness, the general had kept him safe. The idea of promoting Joshua was his, but instead of announcing that, he had asked the only major general present to formally suggest it to the rest of the council.

The council was a small group consisting of 5 individuals who would together coordinate the major operations of the army. It consisted of the general of the army, the major general, the lieutenant general and the 2 four-star generals.

Joshua knew what the rank of colonel meant. He now had access to level 8 intelligence, the second-highest level available. Organization of major operations would now be one of his roles. And the history. Learning the truth about many events of the past century would make him see the governing body from a different perspective; one of sacrifice for the greater good. This, of course, included the truth about the nuclear apocalypse and what had happened back then. While looking forward to being told about that event, Joshua was also secretly worried. Would he be able to handle the truth?