2025

By Carl Berryman

A surprise attack launched from the International Space Station will result in 95% of the urban and suburban U.S. population dying within two weeks due to starvation, violence, and the effects of radiation. There will be no time for a retaliatory strike as strategic assets are destroyed. Our cities will become jungles ruled for a short time by g

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors Press
• Release date: Jun 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781643142821

Carl Berryman

Carl Berryman earned a B.A. in zoology and a D.VM. Degree from the U. of Missouri. After practicing large animal medicine in Montana, he joined the U.S. Army during Vietnam. He served 13 tours in over 22 years and retired a Lieutenant Colonel. Along the way, he earned a Master of Public Health Degree from the University of Minnesota, emphasis on zoonoses and infectious diseases, and completed two years of graduate training in Veterinary Pathology at Texas A&M University. He is a former Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Assignments included a unit Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons Officer in Korea, and a staff officer in Medical Research and Development Command at Fort Detrick, MD. Their sons are retired military, an aerospace engineer Marine Harrier aviator and a U.S. Army Air Assault, Airborne; Ranger qualified Colonel. He currently resides in a small Wyoming town where he and Mrs. Berryman enjoy hunting and fishing.

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Copyright © 2020 by Carl Berryman

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Archer, Arlene, Ethan Bradley’s secretary at the Pentagon.

Auburn, Robert, Captain, USN, Commanding USS San Antonio, SSBN

Billings, Captain, USN, Commanding, USS Minneapolis, SSBN

Bowen, Frank, Executive Officer, USS Minneapolis

Boyington, Kenneth, Captain, Commanding USS Andie L. Murphy, SSBN

Bradley, Robert, GEN Ethan Bradley’s deceased father

Bradley, Joshua, Ethan Bradley’s second son with first wife Martha.

Bradley, Samuel, Ethan Bradley’s first son with first wife Martha

Cantor, Norma former Vice President

Campbell, Naomi

Chandler, Mike Captain, USN, Commanding USS Kansas City, SSBN

Chinkov, Georgi, Deputy Premier, Russia, after Medvedev

Cruz, Felipe, criminal

Diaz, Hernando, criminal

Fitzgerald, Hugh, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) SSBN

Frandson, General: four star USAF, Commander, SPACECOM

Gordo, waiter

Johnson, Edward, Deputy Sheriff, Washakie, Co, WY

Ling, Wang Ni, Chief of Staff, PLAN

Lorenzo, Jesus, criminal

Marsden, Donna 17-year-old girl rescued by Bradley, Josh’s girl

McCartney, General, four-star USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, USAF

Medvedev, Alexi, Russian Deputy Prime Minister

Osborne, Robert, General Commandant, USMC who replaces General Schenken

Perroud, Gypsy Lee Gen Bradley’s second wife, physicist

Proboff, Vladimir, Russian Premier

Reagan, George, Chief of Naval Operations

Santiago, Manual, criminal

Saunders, Captain, USN, Commanding USS Fort Worth, SSBM

Schenken, General Commandant USMC, while Bradley is at the Pentagon

Sherman, Jason, Captain, USN, Commanding the USS Robert Howard, SSBM

Sikowsky, Fred, GS-20, NSA liaison officer in the Pentagon, CFR member

Stewart, Ronald, Secretary of State under Naomi

Thornton, John, Physician, Washakie Co, WY

Waddell, Clayton Major General, USAF, SPACECOM, Satellite program Manager

Wu, Ling33, Chinese President

Youngston, Carol, 17-year-old girl, ultimately Sam’s wife

PENTAGON BRIEFING ROOM, 1 March 2024, 08:00 Hours, for all General Officers at the rank of Major General and above. Briefing Officer: MG Clayton Waddell, USAF. Space Command (SPACECOM)

"We have one of our satellites in the same orbit as a Russian satellite we believe to be carrying MIRV, or multiple individual re-entry warheads. Its primary power source is solar panels, same as ours. Our satellite, however, is registering traces of radioactivity consistent with plutonium. In other words, one of their MIRVs is leaking radiation. We have not informed the Russians that we are aware of the leak, which confirms the nature of the satellite. The Russians claim it as a meteorological satellite with a large onboard computer. We do not doubt the presence of the computer, but it has to be for programming warhead entry. We are uncertain as to the nature of the warheads, whether they are tailored primarily for heat, blast, or electromagnetic pulse, or EMP or other forms of radiation. If the warheads are EMP and are properly spread, they will destroy all digital instrumentation within the continental United States. This satellite circles the globe every 90 minutes in orbit opposite the rotational direction of the earth. It can, therefore, be brought into position for launch within a 90- minute time frame. Should the circling the globe cease and its position be maintained over North America, we must presume it is being positioned for the launch of the warheads. If an EMP attack is planned, the best time to launch would be in early winter, say in early November, not later than early December, depending on meteorological factors. Crops would be harvested, and in storage, cold weather would be approaching or already onset depending on location in the country. In short, such an attack at this time would shut down all distribution of food and fuel supplies and everything else. Those in the northern tier of states would soon run out of fuel oil for homes and factories, while the southern tier of states would manage temperature wise. All electrical grids and transformers would be fried. All vehicles with electronics will be immediately shut down. Many will have magnetized engines and will come to abrupt stops with a large number of vehicle wrecks. Unfortunately, only the food supplies on hand in the kitchen pantry will be available. Those will last only a few days. Those within walking distance of grocery stores will pick the shelves clean in a matter of days if not hours. Make no mistake, ladies and gentlemen, we will be plunged back to the 1850s time frame. Only the farmers and only some of them will survive. Our cities will be rampant with looting, crime, and ultimately death by starvation and freezing in the northern states. Few, if any, city dwellers will survive. To do so, they would have to be able to walk to the surrounding country where they might or might not be taken in by local farmers. Small towns won’t be much better off. Most likely, those who make it out to the countryside won’t last long either, as they will most likely be shot for trying to loot from the rural population.

This will be an open door for any country with sufficient resources to walk right in. There won’t be many of us left to resist. Expect starvation and cold to kill about 280 million Americans over the next 90 to one hundred and eighty days. That means Russia and China. No one else would have the resources to cross an ocean. A couple of dozen large ships say large oil tankers fitted to carry people instead of oil, could quickly place hundreds of thousands of foreigners on our shores. They could make the voyage circular, bringing in thousands each trip, continuing indefinitely, even for a couple of years. Our harvested food stores would feed them until they could plant crops the following spring. Of course, they would have to bring their own vehicles and farm equipment or the equipment and parts to repair ours to use them. Wouldn’t you say this would be an excellent way for China to bleed off her excess population? All they would have to do is remove our decomposing bodies. They might even have plans to recycle the dead."

Ethan Bradley raised his hand. The speaker responded, Yes, General Bradley? You have a question?

What does the intelligence community place on the probability of either an EMP attack or other forms of strategic attack, as in biological. I mean, what is the risk assessment?

We place the probability of an EMP attack at less than 5% General. The potential is greater for a biological attack that would leave the infrastructure intact. The only hitch here is that an EMP attack would destroy or greatly diminish our ability to retaliate. As a nation, we could handle a biological attack far better than an EMP assault. An EMP strike could cover the entire country in one fell swoop, literally in a matter of minutes. A biological attack would have to be initiated at multiple points with a very rapid acting agent to cripple us as a whole. That could take weeks but with no damage to the infrastructure.

General Officers Mess, the Pentagon,

Do you mind if we join you, General Bradley?

Not at all, Generals. Please sit down. It is always a pleasure to dine and chat with the United States Air Force.

What did you think of this morning’s seminar, General Bradley?

It’s pretty obvious, though if it was not explicitly stated, we are now militarily in third place behind China and Russia. All three of these economies are in sad shape. So far, it hasn’t resulted in a hot war, but that could happen at any time, although unlikely in the immediate future. China’s military bases on those artificial islands they built in the South China Seas has given them control over the Spratleys and Paracel Islands. Their land-based fighter aircraft flying off these islands are superior to our carrier-based aircraft, and their land-based cruise missiles can threaten our Carrier Battle Groups before they can close to truly effective range. What concerns me more though is the possibility and potential of space-based laser satellites and nuclear missiles launched from their mini space stations the Russians have placed up there.

What do you think we should do about that General Bradley?

"Well, you are the Commander of SPACECOM General, I’d like to think that you have positioned our killer satellites in close proximity to their launch platforms and their laser-based satellites.

You’re in line for your third star, aren’t you General Bradley?, asked General McCartney.

I’m in the zone, but the timeline puts me at the bottom of the list. I have irritated enough politicians by being forthright, that I seriously doubt my selection will be approved. Besides, the United States Marine Corps has little use for three- star generals that aren’t paper pushers. I’ll probably be put out to pasture like an old war horse.

What’s your age, General, 50? 46, General McCartney. Who knows, maybe it is time for me to retire back to Wyoming and chase the deer and elk instead of bad guys who are determined by the State Department.

With the economy in shambles, inflation still running over 20% a year, do you think that’s wise? What’s the economy like in Wyoming, anyway?

Being agriculturally based General, it is pretty poor. The sugar beet industry crashed under the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal. Refined sugar can be imported at less cost than to simply grow the sugar beets let alone refine it. People can’t afford to eat much beef, and beef prices for lower quality beef from South America and Mexico means us Americans eat a lot more ground beef and far less steak than we used to. Also, the ten-year drought has reduced the alfalfa and corn grown in Wyoming, so beef prices are pretty high over the last decade. No, things are pretty depressed. Even the Mexican field hands are pulling out for greener pastures. Bemused, are you thinking of retiring to Wyoming, General Frandson? Can your satellites locate the elk for you in the timber?

Wouldn’t that be cheating, General, asked General McCartney? Indeed, it would take all the fun out of it, as well as being illegal General. Of course, Game and Fish could never prove it!

Aren’t you a city boy General Frandson, ask Bradley. New York City as I recall. Indeed, I am General. I would have to rely on you, Daniel Boone types to do any serious hunting. In that case, the door will always be open for you to join me in Wyoming, Generals. And now if you will excuse me, I have to go see a man about some finances."

As Bradley rose with his tray, General Frandson remarked: General Bradley, please join us in the General Officers bar at 17:30 for further discussion. Bradley looked at the two generals and smiled, If you are buying, I am drinking. See you there.

Bradley left, wondering why two Air Force four stars would want to meet with a USMC Major General. Is it because I commanded a marine division, any other possible reason?

Bradley ordered a Jack Daniels and Coca Cola from the bar while he waited and glanced around the room. Curious, he paid for his drink and with it in hand, he leisurely strolled around the room, noting who was present and with whom, and who was absent. He had already observed he was one of the very few two stars at the conference. Almost all attendees were three and four-star flag officers of all services. The only Coast Guard officer present was the commandant. The U.S. Coast Guard will fall under the auspices of the Navy in wartime. The all force conference was a presentation of future technological advances which would influence the coming decades of warfighting. How innovative research could be applied that has yet to be determined for military purposes. The papers presented were mostly by scientists from the Defense Advanced Research Agency, acronym DARPA, and the Test and Evaluation Command, acronym TECOM. One or two were from medical scientists sponsored by Medical Research and Development Command, acronym MRDC. MRDC presented two papers on radiation poisoning and advances in protection against it. A third paper was on the possibility of advanced biological weapons systems by foreign powers.

Good afternoon, General Bradley, the two Generals joined Bradley at his table. Are you ready for another? Only if you are buying, General Frandson. But I shall and he indicated to the waiter to approach and ordered three bourbon and colas.

What do you think of the CNO’s demands for more nonnuclear anti-sub submarines, General Bradley? He pretty much demanded ten and wound up with only four as the President reduced our DOD budget four years ago. Now three of those four are deployed and the fourth in sea trials, he still yells for more. His replacement will probably sing the same song. Since you marines come under the Department of the Navy, aren’t you marines short of equipment that could be funded by the reduction?

Yes, Sir, we are. I have to agree with the CNO though. The size of the Chinese and Russian submarine fleets scares the dickens out of me. We need to be able to kill them all far from our shores, both their missile and attack subs. I believe our carrier battle groups are very vulnerable to their submarine fleets. We could all use massive budget increases. These new air-independent subs though are much smaller, more maneuverable, quieter than anything else in the ocean, faster, deadlier and cost about a fourth or less than the cost of a nuclear attack sub. Our marine and navy air requirements are quite a bit shy of the ideal as well. We don’t have enough carrier versions of the F-35 or non-carrier-based ground support aircraft for the Marine Corps. The yokel civilians who think we can do everything with drones and unmanned aircraft are a bit shy of practical experience. I’m not convinced that any killer types of satellite we might have up there in low orbit that I don’t know about might be unable to eliminate tactical enemy aircraft.

Don’t you think General, those Chinese subs especially, are there to protect the massive trading fleet they have? After all, they essentially dominate international ocean shipping?

Protect their merchant fleet from whom, General McCartney? Certainly not us! Right now, they are in bed with the Russians and see no threat from them. European and Japanese and Korean shipping have fallen to their competition and are pretty insignificant. Russian subs, especially their Sea Launched Ballistic Missile Submarines (SLBMs) have prowled off our coasts for decades. I doubt we could get more than half of them at any one time before they launched. The next day Ethan decided he would have lunch in the General Officer’s mess rather than the brown bag lunch he hid in his brief case. A tall, rather thin man in a suit and tie stepped up to his table as he was eating. May I join you, General? It seems the place is rather crowded today.

Ethan looked the man over. His tie was loose and his suit slightly ill-fitting. Ethan looked at the identity badge hanging on a chain around his neck. It identified him as a GS-19, Senior Service Executive, one Ethan never heard of. Certainly, Sir, please have a seat. Ethan figured his presence was no accident as he glanced around the mess and noted quite a number of half-empty tables. Ethan waited for the man to initiate the conversation.

What did you think the purpose of the briefing yesterday? Why would anyone want to launch an EMP attack on us? Ethan hesitated for a minute, not wanting to insult the SES, if he was too stupid to figure it out, or if he was simply testing Ethan’s thinking, or tangentially trying to ferret out his position on something related, or something more sinister. Ethan did not notice him at yesterday’s briefing. That means he was aware of its contents before the briefing occurred. Trying to phrase an answer that was not an insult, he replied. "The basis of it was geopolitics. We’re still one of the big boys on the block. One way to consider it is Russia and China dividing the world along certain fault lines. Russia is a Eurasian power. Stress the Euro- part of that.

On the other hand, China is an East Asian and South Asian power which wishes to expand its influence over Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Russia wants to bring all of Europe into its fold. China has established a considerable footprint in Africa. I don’t know how, or if at all, they will contend over Africa. The fault line in Asia will run through the Central Asian Republics, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan. I don’t know precisely where that line will be. I’m not sure Russia wants to contend with their Muslim population.

On the other hand, China has shown no restraint in annihilating them when they get too rambunctious, such as establishing Sharia law. Russia gets Europe; China gets Southeast Asia, the western Pacific. Where we enter the picture is from China’s perspective, the garden spot of the planet. China wants our agricultural productivity, oil, and coal. They don’t want our population. We are in the way, sort of a hindrance. They don’t want us to eat. They want our food production for their own people. They have learned quite enough of our agricultural methods to step right in and take over. In short, they want our land. They have polluted their own to the point of serious degradation."

14 April 2024, 10:00 Hours

Flag Officers at the rank of 0-8 and above.

Pentagon Briefing Room, MG Clayton Waddell, SPACECOM, USAF, Presenting.

Over the past two weeks, our satellites have observed movements at night of Iranian forces moving towards the border with Iraq. The movements are from Ahvaz to Khorramashahr on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in the south, and from Sanandaj to Marivan in the north. The Iranians built a cantonment in Marivan last year, now we know why. So far, they appear to be company-sized units of mounted infantry. One, two or three companies are moving to these locations each night. They are driving using night vision goggles and no headlights. So far, no tank or heavy artillery units have been observed. Their objectives are uncertain, but their location around Marivan suggests a possible drive towards the oilfields around Kirkuk in the north. If so, they can expect fierce resistance from Kurdish forces. Such an operation would invoke considerable angst in Turkey. You can bet Turkey will go on full alert if the Iranians come with 100 kilometers of their border. In the south, the Marsh Arabs of Iraq are mostly Shiites, and would most likely welcome the Shiite Iranians. If the Iranians cross the Shat al Arab, they could take Basra and turn south against Kuwait, or turn north towards A Nasiriyah. From there they would have two roads to drive north to Baghdad if that is the final objective. One senior analyst thinks the northern force is a feint. The southern force could bypass Baghdad rather than getting bogged down in urban warfare and drive towards Ramadi. Ramadi also has a substantial Shiite population. One single analyst, the newest on the Defense Intelligence Agency staff, believes their ultimate objective is Israel and Jerusalem. It is a long way to Jerusalem, close to 1000 kilometers in a straight line. By roads, it is closer to 1500 kilometers. Refueling stations using fuel storage bladders protected by revetments have been established close to the border in each location. It would be difficult but not impossible for the Iranians to make such a thrust. If we observe artillery and armor units moving west, it could be consistent with a spring offensive. If chemical units are identified, count on it. A seaborne offensive by Iran as part of their operation is essentially impossible. The Egyptians would not allow their transit through the Suez Canal, and they lack sufficient blue water naval capability to sail around Africa and into the Mediterranean. It will be a classic land warfare operation.

MG Bradley’s Office, Monday Morning, 10:30 Hours.

Good Morning Arlene, I don’t have an appointment with the General, but I wonder if he is available for coffee.

"Em sure he is always available for coffee with the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.

Buzzing Bradley on the intercom, General Bradley, GEN Schenken is here to see you. Shall I bring in two coffees GEN Schenken?

No thanks Arlene, Em going to treat the General to coffee in the General Officer’s Mess.

Bradley steps out of his office, hand extended, Good Morning Sir, what’s this about coffee?

Let’s go to the Mess and chitchat.

Whatever you say, General, as long as you are buying." They strolled casually into the club and found a table in the open.

What’s on your mind, General? Em sure you didn’t want it recorded.

You’re right, Ethan. This whole damned place is bugged, and NSA fears everybody and everything. Who knows what or where the mikes are in here? Worse, who knows what the power structure backing NSA is. I suspect even the President is afraid of them, although I don’t know why. Listen, Em Hesitant, Bradley asked, Just what is it that makes you so circumspect that makes you want to retire General? You still have a full year to go on this tour as Commandant. You could easily stay on after that if you choose."

Things are going on that I don’t like. I don’t want any part of them. Ethan, there is great under tow in effect to which the American public is totally oblivious. Mainstream media, if it is even aware of it, won’t’ even think about it, let alone report on it. It is all behind the scenes, carefully guarded, part of it is a great debate on foreign policy. Even the Council on Foreign Relations is divided over it. Europe is falling to Islam. Some want us to invade Europe to help expel the Muslims. Another faction says expel them here first. Our trade with Europe is declining to the point of going out of existence. The President wants to withdraw from NATO and Europe to make a Fortress America. Article 5 of the NATO agreement does not absolutely commit us to defend any NATO member if attacked. Rather, the NATO agreement states ‘in consultation with other NATO members.’ That’s something the European heads of state and our military don’t want the public to know. They want Congress and the American public to believe it is a total commitment. The President wants us to withdraw from NATO, but the military-industrial complex is resisting like hell. She won’t give an inch and neither will the Joint Chiefs. You can bet your bottom dollar almost all of the four-star generals in all of the services are getting stock options at prices you wouldn’t believe. Many of the CFR realize that Islamic Europe is the greatest threat to the New World Order. That’s why they are pushing for us to ‘assist’ European governments before they fall to Islam and Sharia.

You have been here a little over a year. How would you like to get out of here, out of the DC area? Command of the Third Marine Division is coming open soon, and I’ll offer it to you if you want out of here. I know you have had enough of this staff crap, and are really a field commander. You proved that in the past as a division commander. You’re one of our top contenders for three and four stars, destined for Corps command if you stay in, that you are a warrior at every level is beyond dispute. Conceivably, you could become Commandant of the Corps if things don’t go as far south as I think they will. You have proven that at every level of combat, from personal hand to hand combat to being one of the most successful division commanders in the USMC. You are needed for your military operational and demonstrated potential strategic skills. You are at that operational to a strategic level interface where you will be forced to make a decision for the edification of the inner circle hierarchy. You are either for them or against them, for or against the Constitution. Those who support the Constitution will be swiftly eliminated. That time is coming for you very soon. Sometimes I wonder though about your political philosophy. A military officer is an instrument of the perceptions of the geopolitics by the ruling elites, or ignorant politicians, be they tyrannical or republican, or anything in between As Clauswitz is routinely summarized, ‘war is politics by other means.’ You have played that very carefully, very close to your chest. Nobody really knows where you stand in the political arena. That’s why you have been retained on active duty as a staff officer here for evaluation. Now to answer your question, let’s just say I am sick of the politics and let it go at that. I don’t like the international situation that was covered in the recent briefing on EMP satellites. I don’t like our national political situation. The country has forgotten its roots. We’re rotting from the inside. I don’t like the FEMA camps being staffed and stockpiled again. We had enough of them earlier. I just don’t know how things are going to play out. There isn’t a politician in either house of Congress that isn’t corrupt or power hungry or both. I don’t like the smell of this place, Ethan. The capitol of our country is an overflowing cesspool. You better get the hell out of here, Ethan. If you accept a Division Command again, at least for the time being, I’ll have the orders cut. Maybe I’ll move to Wyoming too."

I’ll be delighted to get the hell out of Dodge, General. Just give me the written orders, and I’ll get started out processing. Gypsy will be glad to hear it. I’ll still have the family move to Wyoming. I hear rumblings as well, but nothing definite. I have never cared for the rumor mill in this place, or the grinding politics or the ass kissing or Congressional deities either, for that matter.

I’ll see that the orders are cut by the end of the month. I think you are wise to get the family out of the area. The change of command ceremony will, of course, take place in about 45 days at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. I know you will do what’s right, no matter what happens, Ethan.

Bradley smiled. Let’s get some more coffee, General!

Back in his office, Ethan thoughtfully didn’t press the General after that last comment, just sipped his coffee and smiled. General Schenken submitted his resignation thirty days later with a retirement date of 31 October. General Osborne was named his successor to assume the office at the beginning of November.

Bradley was enjoying a late lunch alone in the general officers’ mess when a tall, rather skinny man, dressed in a sport coat, striped tie, and white shirt approached his table. His identity card was hanging loosely by its chain around his neck. Ethan glanced up at the man, noting his identity card. Do you mind if I join you, General? he asked.

Not at all, please sit. as Ethan motioned to a chair, fork in hand.

I’m Fred Sikowsky, General, offering Ethan his hand. Ethan shook his hand and casually glanced around the room, noting a number of empty tables. Ethan immediately realized that this was no chance encounter. Ethan noted the security pass on Sikowsky’s neck that identified him as a GS-20, a high- ranking NSA officer. Ethan continued to eat as Sikowsky settled in, salted his food, and placed a napkin on his lap. During the next few minutes, neither spoke. Finally, Sikowsky said, I understand you are General Frandson’s fair-haired boy.

I don’t know about that, Mr. Sikowsky. I am only a two star, not three or four.

Well, that speaks volumes anyway General. Em sure you’ll soon gather one or two more. Ethan contemplated asking him why he said that. Do you have the magic crystal ball, Mr. Sikowsky?

No, nothing of the sort, General. You are better known that you realize. Ethan nodded, saying nothing, just continuing to eat. After devouring half his lunch, Sikowsky asked: what do you think of the situation in Europe, General?

You NSA folks are the one with all the intel Mr. Sikowsky, what do you think? Us peasants only know what we see on the nightly news or what’s left after you redact the news releases.

It’s pretty grim General. The Muslims are well armed, fighting house to house, killing anyone who admits or whom they suspect, of being a non-Muslim. Soon they will control some of Europe’s major cities.

"What of the defense of these civilians, Mr. Sikowsky? The European civilians aren’t allowed to own firearms for selfdefense, most likely the police have been targeted and slaughtered in their homes, and the Muslim militias outnumber the European armies, where the armies can’t use heavy weapons in urban warfare. Seems pretty grim to me, Mr.

Yes, it does, General, so it does.

Ethan continued to eat