Trafford Publishing: Energy: The Final Crisis

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Energy: The Final Crisis

by Bill J. McElwain

234 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0418; ISBN 1-55369-016-8; US$20.86, C$23.99, EUR17.14, £12.00

An energy crisis leads the world's militaries on a course of terrorism and war.

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About the Book

First, it was George Orwell's '1984'. Now, the next fortune cookie of a book, Energy - The Final Crisis. Written with a unique perspective of a historical commentary about events not yet past, the reader is introduced to more than just high heating costs. Between the covers of this book, you will follow the struggle of several characters as they try to survive or offer a solution to the world, only to be swallowed by a whirlwind of treachery and violence. You will experience the desperation of world powers - scrambling for global dominance, while ever-shrinking fuel supplies threaten their military machines. You will feel provoked at the critical comments of modern politics. You man giggle as the author snubs political correctness, but you will fell a chill when you connect current world tensions - terrorism and the Middle East, to the present. This book was written before September 11, 2001.

About the Author

    Bill J. McElwain, was born in Sudbury, Ontario. He then settled in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, more than twenty-years ago. For most of his life, Bill has studied history, economics and art with the devotion of a scholar. His business and personal experiences are too many to list here. He served his country as a Navy Weapons technician 1980-83. at 23-years of age, he entered politics and ran as a candidate in the 1984 federal election. Later, he operated a successful Financial Planning Practice, and has over 10-years of investment experience. From 13-years of age to the present he paints with oils on canvas. Now, with his first book, he attempts the same with words.

Excerpts

From Chapter 2

    The Canadian reaction was more of an outrage over the environmental impact-especially that which might damage the already near depleted fish stocks in the area. Natural Resources Canada, headed by Minister Thibeault, who always looked as though he had slept in, may very well have at this particular time-he missed the minister's meeting regarding the lost Aurora. When he finally did get in front of cameras and other media sources, he cried foul and was incensed about American companies having disregard for Canadian waters. The minister then went on about lost revenue from the now absent Aurora. This of course didn't help the weakening relations between the two nations.
    No Canadian agency seemed to be concerned with the possibility of sabotage; not one official report was filed, other than accusations of the Aurora's mismanagement. The Prime Minister had reportedly made plans to meet with the U.S. regarding maritime security issues, but the meeting was cancelled not long after the comments from Thibeault were made. The relationship between Canada and the U.S. was slowly deteriorating. In the eyes of the U.S., Canada seemed too casual, stubborn and cheap to address security issues. The U.S. felt they carried an unfair load of North American defense responsibilities, and the resentment grew steadily. Canada on the other hand saw the U.S. as domineering and like a teenager before an overbearing parent, the country's politicians made rebellious commentary whenever possible-no doubt to appease the citizens, who were becoming wary of their neighbour to the south.

    The year 2001 ushered in events that effected all aspects of the economy and some created some rather interesting foreign affairs issues. While fumbling with these issues, the U.S. government had taking a turn for which destiny would cement a solid course, like a train on steel rails pointing downhill. This course would be the beginning of the end for an empire who's emperor stood drunk at the gates of his great world-waving for all to come in, while his warriors ran roughshod over the communities of earth. It couldn't be long until the Trojan like have-nots, and the mistreated arrived, hearts filled with vengeance-daggers in their teeth.

From Chapter 6

     Counter Measures

    Somewhere in the sky over a cold alpine prison, 60,000 feet above the earth's surface a B-3C bomber began to assign its payload to the targets pre-programmed in its computer. Intelligence had made an error on the current use of building 361r (as CIA records referred to it) and this particular bomber was slowing down from hypersonic speed, to drop six guided bombs and two cruise missiles on the structure from many miles high.
    This alpine prison was thought to be used as a high altitude command centre, especially for surface to air defenses in Russia. Although it had served this purpose in the past, the antenna, and radar equipment lay derelict at this time, and the only use was as a prison camp. CIA and FBI sources claimed there was still a military intelligence operation in the building, along with advanced radar and communications facilities on the nearby grounds. All this information had been correct, but unbeknownst to them, out of date by two years. Nevertheless, as the crew on board the B-3C released their deadly load of bombs, designated for this complex, the details didn't matter any more-that structure and all surrounding it, were as good as finished.
    The skies over the prison-fortress, where the oilrig personnel lay in their bunks was lit by the moon and stars, with only a few high clouds in sight, as frost descended everywhere. The North Star crew, already feeling the cold air seep into their cells and attack them through very thin blankets began to shiver slightly-the only exception now was Markus and Albert, who were kept without any blankets, and they were shaking almost uncontrollably in their tiny cell.
    Carli had finally managed to get a blanket from one of the guards. She had sensed that she would die without one, and went to great lengths to encourage the guard who assaulted her to provide her with this small essential item. It was finally another guard-younger and less violent who had given her the blanket. Perhaps he was the one who gave her the robe, perhaps he had felt sorry for her, or maybe he just wanted to keep her alive long enough to assault her himself -- one will never know. None of these people could have seen it coming, no one in that strange enclave could see what lurked 60,000 feet above them, and how it might change the destiny of those who's lives seemed so far removed from the civilized world.
It was at this very moment with everyone facing the coming cold of night that Bruce opened his eyes to the full blast of the moon coming into his cell. Although the dull glass muted the moon, he could almost see the details, and for a second - thought he had just saw something move fast across it -- in a downward direction. A direction that would have seemed like something was about to hit the ground just under his window. Bruce never had a chance to finish that thought as his world was suddenly and violently changed.

From Chapter 16

    "What, more talk?" The CIA agent cried out, "We don't have time for this man! These guys are gonna climb over that country like a case of bad breath and we're gonna be sucking it up by tomorrow at this time. God damn it, I live here, my family lives hear -- we gotta do something!"
    The President shot back curtly, "enough of that. I need to at least to make our process clear to the Russian President, and we need to know where the Canadian army is at, with respect of repulsing this new development. Just what the hell will the Chinese do? As if they haven't done enough already."
    Again, the agent couldn't keep himself quiet he was so excited. "I don't care what anyone in here says, we have worked on this for years now and we have warned you." He was looking directly at the President, "I'm telling you man, these Canadians won't last the day -- their population is completely disarmed. Their own government has been fighting a secret war against their own armed forces, reducing them to a token force for years now. They are not going to provide any defense; they're finished man, before they even get started. We need nukes now. We have got to stop them on the ground, right now. He stopped wide-eyed, vibrating and stared at the President. The President rose to his feet and looking right back at the man he made his case very clear. "You listen to me very carefully," he said as he pointed his finger at the agent, "I want you to get a grip on yourself right now, this isn't going to help any of us in the least."
    "We told you what was coming man, and what to do -- you missed the boat and now we're fu ... "
    "Shut your mouth!" The President yelled back before the agent could finish his obviously crude remark. "I want you to wait outside this office right now, and that's an order. Yes goddamn it we're at war, and I'll be goddamned if I'm going to allow this country to fall apart from the inside. We have the proper sequence of handling these things -- I suggest we stick with that. The treaty, as you people have so easily dismissed, expresses no first use of nuclear weapons. If we launch now, what do you think they will do? Huh? Well? If this is as coordinated as you say how many of you want to go hangout downtown in this capital or in New York City right after we launch? Huh?" he barked out. "Yeah, not many hands went up just then did they?" He stopped only to look in the direction of the office door as it opened. The agent was stepping out as instructed, while the President then continued, "Because each of us in this room know all too well that there will be a retaliatory strike from submarines offshore, and that by dawns first light tomorrow, one third of our population will be lost."
    "General Becker," the President asked. How much damage can you do to these assholes while they are still on Canadian soil without nukes, using just our aircraft and conventional weapons?"
    "That's not determined yet sir, until we get all the satellite images and some on-the-ground reporting from the Canadians."
    "Any guess will do sir." The President seemed eager for some salvation of the moment.

Catalogue Information