Breakup — D.W. Patterson

The future is predictable if not knowable and the past will repeat itself, if not in all particulars. We know that countries have crumbled in the past and it is certain to happen again in the future. We may think this time will be different, no doubt people in the past thought the same until their world fell apart. It started in out of the way places. Places no one had ever heard of. Where people were tired of waiting for the national government to act. Where people were alarmed at the changes dictated by those in power. Where people were determined to take back what they thought was their country. But in the end what happened was unexpected, global and facilitated by the AIs that actually controlled and benefited from it. "Breakup" is a story in the Future Chronology Series. This series of short stories published by Hiawassee Publishing ranges from near future stories to far millennial stories, from familiar Earth-based settings to distant worlds. This is hard science fiction, old school. Excerpt: Captain Mac McIntyre and a contingent of soldiers showed up at Johnson's repair shop. After the Captain introduced himself he relayed the government's demands. "Mr. Johnson you and your city council will convene immediately and rescind your nullification measure." The German crew continued filming although being held back by some of the Army contingent. "I'm sorry Captain McIntyre, I don't recognize your authority here. You see nullification of federal law means that municipality law overrides." As they continued to argue back and forth a crowd assembled outside. The 3rd Army contingent took a defensive position around the repair shop's front. The state National Guard was in the rear behind the people. The citizens were sandwiched between the Army and the Guard. Just then Otis Lawson got into a heated argument with the Army Sergeant commanding the defense. Otis was claiming his right to enter any place he wanted. The Sergeant was saying the repair shop was off limits to