The Protectors of the Saltire

By William Speir

Tom Anderson and the Knights of the Order of the Saltire are facing a crisis. The country is safe, and freedom and justice have been restored. A few remaining members of the forces who attempted to overthrow the civil government are still at large, but there is disagreement within the Order as to how to handle these fugitives. When a Knight takes on the role of vigilante, extracting revenge for the death of his sister by killing one of the fugitives, Tom must help his fellow Knights decide if they will follow the rules of the Order, or if the Order will be disbanded! When the fugitives attempt a return to power, the Knights must put aside their differences and fight to stop the fugitives before freedom and justice are lost again and replaced with tyranny!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, LLC
• Release date: Oct 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781944277581

William Speir

William Speir is an award-winning author living in Texas. Raised in Alabama, he is a 1984 graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. William retired from corporate life in 2009, after spending 25 years as an executive and a management consultant specializing in the human impact to change. He is also an amateur historian and Civil War artillery expert. In 2015, William signed with Progressive Rising Phoenix Press (PRPP) to publish his fiction and non-fiction works, which span the Action-Adventure, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, and Fantasy genres. For more information about William’s books and book-projects, please visit his website at WilliamSpeir.com.

Book preview

Putting The House In Order

1

January 30, 5:05 AM

Washington, D.C.

President George Irwin Sheppard hit the snooze button on his alarm clock and lay there in the early morning stillness, wishing that he could go back to sleep. Every morning since becoming President of the United States of America, as soon as the alarm sounded, his mind immediately picked up where it left off the night before, denying him the pleasure of occasionally sleeping in. The long hours were taking their toll on him, but there was still so much to do and not enough hours in the day to get it all done.

It had been just over a year since former President Sanborn was impeached and Sheppard was sworn in as President during one of the worst crises in American history. Sanborn had murdered his predecessor, President Hampton, and ordered a number of terrorist attacks to be committed against Americans in an attempted to turn the United States into a police state. He created a federal police force, known as the Homeland Security Force or HSF, established detention camps for political prisoners, and had hundreds of prisoners executed. He had even attempted to declare martial law and disband Congress to prevent his impeachment. It was only when the military refused to obey Sanborn’s illegal orders that Congress successfully impeached Sanborn and began dismantling his administration.

Sheppard’s first year as President had been nearly overwhelming. The economy was on the verge of collapse when he took office because of trade embargos and similar sanctions that other nations had implemented to protest Sanborn’s treatment of U.S. citizens. Sheppard had to act quickly to prove to these nations that he was serious when he promised to restore the civil and human rights that Sanborn had violated. Slowly, the sanctions had been lifted, and the ports were once again moving goods in and out of the country, although not at the same levels as before the crisis. The economy was beginning to stabilize, and America’s industries were rebounding from one of the worst financial years on record.

U.S. military forces were also being allowed to return to Europe and Asia, though not with as much enthusiasm as Sheppard had hoped. The world was being cautious about welcoming the U.S. back into the community of nations. Still, the Navy had redeployed part of its Atlantic and Pacific fleets to their former duty stations, and Sheppard hoped that the U.S. forces in Europe and Asia would return to their previous levels by the end of the year.

Sheppard had traveled to a number of countries to repair diplomatic relations with key military and economic allies around the globe. Diplomatic missions that had been recalled during the crisis were beginning to return, and Sheppard was optimistic that relations would continue to improve. One of the biggest indications of improvement was from the United Nations. During the crisis, the U.S. delegation had been barred from key meetings because the meeting topics concerned sanctions against the United States. Now the U.S. delegation was being allowed back into meetings as the United Nations dealt with other world issues.

Sheppard’s advisors had started to pressure the President about running for another term. The primaries were only a few months away, but the election was the last thing that Sheppard had time to think about. It wasn’t lost on him that he was only the second President to occupy his office without having been elected either President or Vice President. The first was Gerald Ford, who had been appointed as Vice President in 1973 when Spiro Agnew resigned. Less than a year later, Ford became President when Richard Nixon resigned.

Sheppard wasn’t even certain at this point whether or not he wanted a second term in office. He saw it as his primary job to correct the mistakes of his predecessor, and once that was done, he doubted that he’d have anything left to offer the country.

At the end of his first year in office, Sheppard knew that, while he had made progress abolishing Sanborn’s policies and practices, he still had a lot of work left to do. There were hundreds of executive orders that had to be reviewed and either repealed or modified. Some of these orders were popular and had contributed to a very low unemployment rate during Sanborn’s time in office. Sheppard knew he needed to be careful that he didn’t throw out the good with the bad. He worked very closely with the Congressional leaders from both parties to identify the good executive orders and have them replaced with legislation that accomplished the same goal legally.

The biggest issue that still plagued Sheppard was bringing to justice those who were responsible for the crimes committed against American citizens during Sanborn’s time in office. Sanborn, his Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the HSF were dead – killed while resisting arrest or trying to escape. Sheppard had ordered all HSF officers arrested and detained until it could be sorted out which ones were guilty of murder and other crimes, and which were innocent of these crimes. The HSF internment facility guards had been captured when the Navy liberated the prisons, and those involved in the executions had either been killed during the liberation or had been tried and executed shortly afterwards. Most of the HSF officers arrested had already been released due to a lack of evidence that they had been directly involved in the executions or other acts of violence against U.S. citizens.

However, there were still numerous HSF officers who hadn’t been arrested or tried for their crimes. No one knew where they were hiding, but they had managed to elude the Army, the FBI, and the state and local police forces for over a year. This concerned Sheppard. He didn’t like the idea that so many criminals from the Sanborn administration were still on the loose. He was worried that it could give rise to vigilantes who might take justice into their own hands against the wrong people, and he was worried that so many HSF officers in hiding could be plotting something. They’ve already proven they have little regard for innocent lives.

In Sheppard’s inaugural address, he had asked Americans to be patient and let the system work to bring these criminals to justice. And he had promised to apprehend and prosecute all who had committed crimes against U.S. citizens during the crisis. He knew that he needed to keep his promise, but he felt that the people’s patience was wearing thin. He needed for these HSF officers to be found soon.

The alarm clock went off again and Sheppard reached over to turn it off. There was no fighting it. It was time to get another day started. He sat up, got out of bed, and walked slowly to the bathroom to take a shower. As he crossed the bedroom floor, his mind fixated on a single thought: Where are they hiding?

2

January 30, 7:30 PM

Headquarters Commandery.

Fellow Knights and Dames of the Order, Knight Grand Cross Ralph Gardner began as he addressed the assembly. We have reports that at least two former HSF officers are hiding in the area. As you know, we’ve participated in a number of interventions to bring former HSF officers to justice for murder and other crimes committed under the Sanborn administration. These two were recognized by one of our own who was imprisoned at an internment camp in the Caribbean and later escaped – Sam Billingsly. They need to be brought to justice. I ask that a team be put together for that purpose.

Thank you Sir Ralph, the Grand Master said at the end of Ralph’s report. Is there any discussion from the membership on this request?

Do we know where they’re hiding? one member asked.

Not specifically, Ralph replied. One was sighted at a local electronics store. The other was sighted at a hardware store. Both were buying a strange mix of supplies and parts. They were followed on foot by the person who recognized them, but the trail was lost when they got into their cars. The team will need to review traffic footage to determine where they were heading and where else they’ve been making purchases.

Do we know if there are others in hiding with them? another member asked.

Not at this time. That’ll need to be determined before any final plans for their apprehension can be made.

Once all questions had been answered, the Grand Master said Very well. Since there are no more questions on this request, I call for the vote. All in favor of the Order taking on this intervention signify by saying ‘aye’.

Aye, the membership said in unison.

Any opposed? the Grand Master asked.

There was no opposition. The Grand Master turned to Ralph. Very well. Sir Ralph, your request has been approved. Who do you want on your team?

Ralph read the list of 12 names. One of the names was Sam Billingsly, a Knight Commander from Charleston who had transferred to the Headquarters Commandery several months earlier to help with the HSF interventions. One of the other names was Emily McCafferty Anderson, the wife of the Lieutenant Grand Master and the Grand Master’s daughter-in-law.

Each of you please stand, the Grand Master directed. The Dames and Knights stood up.

Will each of you consent to be part of this intervention team? the Grand Master asked.

We do, your Excellency, the Dames and Knights responded.

Thank you, the Grand Master said. You may be seated. He turned to Ralph. Sir Ralph, please keep the Grand Magistry updated on your progress and be prepared to give the Commandery an update at the next meeting.

Yes, your Excellency, Ralph said as he sat down.

Emily looked across the room at her husband and smiled. Thomas Campbell Anderson, the Lt. Grand Master, smiled back and gave her a little wink. While most of the Commandery knew that Tom and Emily were married, few outside the Grand Magistry and Ralph knew that she was also the Grand Master’s daughter-in-law. Tom and Emily were determined to keep their family relationships separate from their work with the Order.

After the meeting was over, Emily made her way to the corridor behind the dais where the offices of the Grand Magistry were located. Tom’s office was near the end of the hall, next to the Grand Master’s office. She started to knock on the door, but hesitated when she heard Tom talking to someone inside. She listened for a moment and realized that it was Ralph’s voice. She knocked and waited for Tom to answer.

Come in, she heard him say.

She opened the door and entered Tom’s office. Ralph was there along with another Knight whom she recognized as Sam Billingsly; Emily had been part of the team that helped get Billingsly and his team back into the United States after they had escaped from the Navassa Island internment facility.

Tom was sitting behind his desk. His office wasn’t as large as the Grand Master’s, but it was almost as nice. Emily always appreciated how clean Tom kept his work spaces, but his desk and conference table were cluttered with piles of papers, reports, and photographs. She knew that, when his workspace looked like this, it was because he was working on something very important and very involved.

Tom had been tasked with looking for patterns and trends so there wouldn’t be another situation like the one with Saul Mancuso three years earlier. The Order had been so busy with interventions against local criminals that it didn’t realize many of them were part of the same criminal enterprise. Several members of the Order had been killed – something that Tom was working to ensure would never happen again. Every report from every intervention being carried out by all Commanderies crossed Tom’s desk to be analyzed and cross-referenced. Even though Tom had a team working with him on this, he still felt obligated to personally review the files and analysis.

Please keep me posted, Tom said to Ralph and Sam as Emily entered the office and closed the door. There are a lot of HSF sightings these days with similar stories about buying strange supplies and parts. It’s starting to feel like a pattern emerging, and I need to know what they’ve been using the parts for. It’s also strange that two HSF officers from Charleston are here now.

I’ve been thinking about that myself, Sam said. It was just lucky that I happened to recognize them as two of the HSF officers who arrested my team and me. I wish there were a better way to spot the HSF officers who are still on the loose.

Me too, Tom said. Hopefully these two will know where some of the others are hiding and will help us find them. Without facial recognition software and access to every surveillance camera in the country, I don’t know any good way to find these criminals.

We’ll keep you in the loop, Ralph promised. Good night, Tom. Turning to Emily, Ralph said, The team is meeting tomorrow evening at 5:30. Can you be here for a briefing?

Sure, I’ll see you then.

Ralph nodded, and he and Sam left Tom’s office.

Tom walked over and gave Emily a kiss. Congratulations on your new assignment.

Thanks! It’s still strange going on interventions without you, but I love the work.

Do you think you’ll be using the new cameras?

I hope so. The last of the bugs have been worked out with the manufacturer, but I want one more field test before the press release goes out.

Emily had designed the surveillance camera system that was being used by the Commandery. It consisted of a hand-held video viewer that could monitor and record up to 20 different cameras simultaneously. The cameras, which came in a variety of models ranging from one the size of a television remote to one the size of a cigarette filter, all had excellent clarity. Each camera also had a 90-day power supply and a wireless range of almost two miles, and by using signal repeaters, the cameras could have a range of over 20 miles. The cameras could either stream live video or store it and transmit images in a micro-burst to avoid detection and triangulation. She had patented the design and was partnering with a local company to produce them commercially. The CEO of this company was a great engineer, but even he had some difficulties duplicating Emily’s design at his assembly plant in Kentucky. The bugs had finally been worked out, and the production models were performing as well as Emily’s prototype. Once in production, they could become a valuable tool for all Commanderies, as well as for military and law enforcement around the world.

Tom was incredibly proud of Emily for what she had accomplished. The system was the best he had ever worked with, and he was sure that sales would do well once it hit the market.

Did you drive yourself or do you want to ride home together? Tom asked.

I was hoping we could ride together.

Sounds good! Can you give me about ten minutes to finish something?

Sure. Mind if I go say ‘hi’ to Dad?

Go ahead. He loves it when you come and see him.

Tom sat back down and picked up the report he had been reviewing earlier. Emily stepped outside, closing Tom’s door behind her, and knocked on the Grand Master’s door softly.

Come in, Emily, she heard Tom’s father say. She smiled and opened the door. He always recognized her knock.

Hi, Dad.

Hi, Emily, James Kirkland Anderson said. He stood up and came around his desk to give Emily a hug. How’s my favorite daughter-in-law?

Dad, Emily said mock seriousness. I’m your only daughter-in-law, and I’m doing fine. How are you?

I’m doing great, and just because you’re my only daughter-in-law doesn’t mean you’re not my favorite. Care for a drink?

Not tonight, thanks. Tom and I are leaving in a few minutes.

I still can’t believe it’s been almost a year already, Tom’s father said.

Me neither, and I still don’t know what to get Tom for an anniversary present. Tom and Emily had gotten married on Valentine’s Day a year earlier and were getting ready to celebrate their first anniversary together. Even though they had lived together for several months before that, the wedding anniversary was a big deal to both Tom and Emily, and she wanted it to be special.

Well, you have only two more weeks to figure that out, Tom’s father reminded her.

I know.

Don’t let it get to you, he told her with a fatherly look on his face. When you’re relaxed, you can be more creative. Trust in yourself, and you’ll make the right decision.

Emily hugged him again. Thanks, Dad, she said.

Any time, he replied. Let’s go get that husband of yours and get out of here.

He put on his coat and followed Emily into the hallway towards Tom’s office. He opened the door and stuck his head in.

Tom, I found this lonely woman roaming the halls. What do you want me to do with her?

Tom looked up from the report he was reviewing and smiled. Is she good-looking?

Reasonably so, his father replied with a grin.

Well, then, send her in, but make it quick. Emily will be back soon.

All three laughed as Tom’s father and Emily walked into Tom’s office. Tom put the report down and stood up to get his jacket. All three left the office and walked across the meeting hall to the Commandery exit.

Any progress? Tom’s father asked as they neared the elevator to the parking deck above.

Some, but not enough. The patterns are there, but I just can’t figure out what they mean. We need more data.

They rode up the elevator in silence. In the parking deck, Tom opened the car door for Emily. She gave Tom’s father a kiss on the cheek and got in. When Tom closed her door, he shook his father’s hand.

Do you know what you’re getting her for your anniversary? Tom’s father said softly so Emily wouldn’t hear.

Not yet. I only have two weeks to work it out, and I’m drawing a complete blank.

Tom’s father gave Tom the same advice he had given Emily earlier.

Thanks, Dad, Tom said as his father walked to his car. Tom got into his car, and he and Emily drove home.

Tom’s father watched Tom’s car drive out of the parking deck. As James started his car, he thought: I wonder what I’m going to get them for their anniversary.

3

January 31, 9:00 AM

Law Offices of James Anderson & Associates.

Come in, gentlemen, James Anderson said to the two men standing at his office door. You’re right on time.

In addition to being the Grand Master of the Order of the Saltire, Tom’s father was an accomplished Regulatory Compliance attorney who helped his clients resolve compliance issues and remain in compliance as federal and state regulations changed. His law offices were in the building on top of the Commandery, which made sense because he owned the building.

Law was James Anderson’s second career. He had started his