Divided We Fall (Book 1)

Divided We Fall is the first book in a trilogy, written by Trent Reedy, Author of Stealing Air and ''Words in the Dust. ''

Synopsis
In the not too distant future, the United States remains a starkly polarized nation. With wars raging in Iran and Pakistan, the economy in shambles, and political discourse increasingly hostile, the United States of America is a deeply troubled land. The recent passage of a Federal law mandating individual ID cards for all citizens inclusive of digitized access to personal information and GPS locating functions has drawn sharp criticism from several state governors. Danny Wright is your average teenager. He's signed up for the National Guard and attends high school. But when Danny is called to a protest that quickly becomes a riot, and Danny's gun accidentally fires, he suddenly finds himself in a middle of a Crisis that eventually becomes the Second American Civil War. Which side is Danny supposed to be on, the Federal government, who have deemed him a fugitive, or Governor Montaine, who he's supposed to serve?

Plot
Seventeen-year-old Private First Class Daniel Christopher Wright is a typical high school senior. He plays football with his friends Eric Sweeney, Travis Jones (aka TJ), Calvin Riccon, Tim Macer and Becca Wells, rides bulls in rodeos, listens to country music, attends parties, and has a girlfriend, JoBell Marie Linder. When he joined the Idaho National Guard, he only wanted to serve his country and honor his father, who was killed in Afghanistan.

Daniel gets a mobilization call on his COMMPAD from Staff Sergeant Meyers, a member of the 476th Combat Engineer Company to report to his duty station, 476th Engineer Company armory, no later than 1800 hours and must wear MCU- Multinational Combat Uniform. Daniel is then transported in a Chinook Helicopter. His team comprises of Specialist Shawna Sparrow, PFC Nick Luchen, Staff Sergeant Ron Torres, Sergeant Thomas Kemp, Sergeant Ribbon, PFC Henry Nelson, Specialist William Danning, Specialist Stein, and 23-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Chad McFee. Their orders are to control the protesters against the Federal ID Card.

But all that changes one weekend in Boise, Idaho. The federal government has passed a law requiring all citizens to carry a national ID card containing medical records and a satellite-trackable chip. The Idaho state assembly and governor, who consider this an unconstitutional invasion of privacy, have voted to nullify the law. When the governor summons the Guard to Boise to manage a group of protesters, One of the protesters grabs the end of his M4 rifle, and Sergeant Meyers is forced to use his buttstock to hit the protester, breaking his nose. Lt. McFee orders the company to fix bayonets on their rifles. Since the riots were getting more violent, Lt. McFee orders the company to their masks on, because the CS gas will be dropped. Suddenly, Danny is hit by a rock and accidentally discharges his weapon, causing other Guardsmen to open fire. In the ensuing melee, twelve people are killed and nine wounded, and outrage erupts on college campuses and in cities across the nation. Meyers and Kemp get into an argument about who fired the first shot, until Danny confesses that he fired the first shot. The Guard soldiers are then visited by General McNabb and Governor Montaine.

Danny attempts to cope with the guilt of starting the shootings by not leaving home and feigning sickness. However, he still returns to school on Monday. In the Beast, Danny picks up JoBell and he tries to tell her about his involvement in Boise, but is interrupted by JoBell ranting about the terrible soldiers at the "Battle of Boise" and the governor.

When at school, Mr. Shiratori poses the class a question on the importance of learning about their government. JoBell, who is revealed to be in the running for valedictorian, answers with a jab at the governor. The class begins to have a discussion about the shootings at Boise and what the people there had been protesting about in the first place. JoBell raises the picture of Danny and declares that he along with the governor should be thrown in prison.

When President Rodriguez demands that Governor Montaine turns over the names of the soldiers involved and begin enforcing the new federal ID-card law, a standoff ensues. The conservative governor vows to resist a federal government grown too big and will nullify the new law. Since nullification means insurrection according to Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution, federal troops are called in, and the crisis escalates. Montaine sends his own soldiers out to confront the Feds, and an standoff occurs. Eventually, the Feds leave. Montaine claims that the arrest attempt was "unconstitutional". Danny's squad clears away trees using C4.

Unfortunately, the FBI discovers Danny's real name and goes to his school, demanding to see him. Since Danny told some of his friends about the Battle of Boise and the accidental fire of his weapon, his friends decide to help him. They escape the FBI in a car chase, but end up driving off the highway and stalling. The police intervene and arrest the Federal soldiers, which angers President Rodriguez. Danny tells JoBell about what happened at Boise, and she forgives him. Danny also tells his Mom about what happened in Boise, and she also forgives him. Governor Montaine orders a blockade of the border so Federal soldiers or the FBI can't get in the state.

The press learn Danny's true name and arrive at his football game, swarming him and asking questions. An angry man with a gun attempts to kill Danny for what happened in Boise, but Danny's friend Cal tackles him. The man is arrested. With the help of police officers, Danny and his friends escape the area. However, the press are also at Danny's house, but Danny avoids them. The press manage to find his phone number. Schmidty shows Danny his bunker under his shop.

Schmidty helps upgrade Danny's vehicle. Governor Montaine establishes the Freedom from Drones Act, which bans drones from civilians. JoBell helps Danny delete his social media pages. Danny goes shooting and goes to a rodeo to take his mind off the Crisis. Unfortunately, a couple of cowboys are angry about what happened in Boise and try to attack Danny, but Danny and Becca hold them off. Specialist Stein is arrested and held in a prison. During class, Danny is called to duty by the President.

Montaine claims that the call to duty was a ruse to get the National Guard out of the state so the FBI can get into the state and arrest Montaine. Coach Shiratori tells Danny its best if he leaves the football team for his own safety. Besides, he has a Crisis to focus on. Danny and his friends consider him reporting for duty, thinking its a trick. Danny proposes to JoBell, but she rejects it, claiming that its too early and that they are in the middle of a Crisis.

President Rodriguez claims the Crisis has gone on too long and orders the United States Army to blockade the state, allowing people to leave, but no one can get in. All Federal financial aid to Idaho is cut off and flights to Idaho are canceled. Multiple people, including Danny's mother, are trapped outside Idaho. Someone throws a rock into Danny's living room, and attached is a death threat. Panic starts to spread. Danny, thinking that it isn't safe anymore, drops out of high school and goes to say goodbye to Coach Shiratori.

Vice President Aaron Henke officially resigns, and Senate Leader Laura Griffith fills in for Vice President. Kelly begins to prepare to illegally cross the border into Idaho, even though it is dangerous. Danny tells her to hang on and wait for a bit. Federal soldiers attempt to cross the border, but Danny prevents that from happening. Unfortunately, the situation escalates into a firefight, which ends up in a federal soldier being shot. Danny goes out into the battlefield to help him and does so, but a medic attempts to arrest him. Danny fights him and retreats to the Idaho bunker.

Kelly hatches a plan to sneak across the border, forcing Danny to make the choice to go and rescue her. Danny's friends join him. They pass the National Guard checkpoint and pass the Federal checkpoint. They successfully exit Idaho without being caught. After reaching Spokane, Washington, Danny's friends go on a shopping run while Danny picks up his mom. Federal soldiers arrest JoBell and Becca, but Danny and his friends intervene. Staff Sergeant Kirklin attempts to arrest Danny and his friends. The situation heats up and, with no choice left, Danny shoots Kirklin, killing him. Danny and his friends escape Spokane.

The Army chases them and, in the heat of the situation, Danny is wounded and his mother is shot. A Federal soldier is wounded. Apache gunships open fire on the Feds, opening the border to Danny. The successfully reenter Idaho. Sadly, Kelly bleeds out from her wounds. In a fit of rage, Danny raises his bloody fist and screams "You want war? We will give you a war!".

To celebrate Danny getting back inside the border, Danny's friends decide to hold a big party. Then, the worst thing imaginable happens. President Rodriguez arrives in Philadelphia, waving and smiling at the crowd. Suddenly, three gunshots ring out. Rodriguez is shot in the chest, neck, and head, killing him instantly. Laura Griffith becomes the next President. She addresses the nation. .

Two weeks pass, and the assassin who killed Rodriguez was caught and killed. Laura Griffith claims the Idaho Crisis has been going on far too long and declares Idaho a rebel state. She orders the Army to invade Idaho. The Internet is shut off and all power to Idaho is cut off. Danny prepares for the invasion.