Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Leadership
Nathan Dees was struggling. Not long after he was chosen as a leader, later appointed as mayor, and declared the creation of the East River Militia, many problems kept coming up every day.
The militia troops were a mess. No one knew who would be in charge of the militia, who was to be higher ranked or what they were actually going to be doing. As Nathan had first decided, during the riots, that they would rid the town of the Black Rats, this remained everyone’s focus. However, the militia troops just wandered the streets looting everywhere they went. Those townspeople that didn't know of or understand who this new militia was, had immediately regarded them as just some other gang. Fighting was naturally inevitable and already numerus fights had already ensued.
Nathan also found that the very committee of random citizens that voted for him was also falling into a total disaster. Some wanted to try and take over the area like the gangsters did, by demanding that the people pay for the East River Militia’s protection. While others wanted to help the people by returning what the gangsters had stolen and help rebuild homes and shops like a charity organization. Yet even a few others wanted to call everything off, seeing that this near impossible task was clearly going to fail.
Nathan sat back in his chair, at the head of a wooden table, watching everyone bickering and yelling at each other in the warehouse that had become their meeting place. He had not expected things end up like this. All of the excitement from the riot and his sudden rise to power was gone. The realization of leadership was now settling in, and it was beginning to feel fleeting.
"Everyone shut up!" Nathan finally snapped. "And sit down, now!"
The angry gathering slowly quieted. Some were still arguing at the far end of the table, but Nathan yelled at them some more until everyone calmed down. Then everyone just stared angrily at him waiting for what he had to say.
"Things cannot go on like this." Nathan sighed heavily leaning forward with both his hand on the tabletop. "What we need to do first is restore order. Go get everyone that is out there in the streets back here. I feel that they are only making matters worse for the moment."
No one moved. It seemed that Nathan still had to deal with the issues of this loosely formed committee first. There had to be a proper pecking order established.
"Well, since no one is volunteering to leave and help out, let's disband this committee and start over." Nathan started to say but was immediately interrupted by several people all at once voicing their disagreements. He held up his hands to get them to calm down. After a moment they finally did.
"As I was saying, this committee is too big. Other than my position as leader of the East River Militia, or ERM, we must form a proper chain of command here. So, I say we need to vote on a few people here to fill the positions of Vice Mayor, Treasure, who's in charge of the militia forces, who keeps track of the meeting and records them; and then anything else that needs taking care of. Everyone here needs to pick some position that they feel qualified to be in and explain why. Then once everyone gets a say, we vote."
The group murmured amongst themselves for several minutes while Nathan waited nervously. Finally, a tall middle-aged man with a balding shaven head stood up. Nathan recognized him; he was a former member of the old city's council.
"I think what Mr. Dees has said is a very rational concept. This rushed formation of the current committee is useless as it stands. I Henry Flanagan would volunteer to be elected as Vice Mayor. I was a former Public Services committee leader here in town. So, I understand the importance of why and what a city needs to function properly." Henry paused for a moment and scanned the room. Then he looked at Nathan, as if saying that Nathan needed to say something to continue the motion.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Mr. Flanagan. Does anyone wish to put in their own bid for Vice Mayor." Nathan asked looking around to see if anyone else made a motion, but the room was silent. It wasn't all too surprising though. Mr. Flanagan was an actual government official, while most everyone here were mainly civilians. "Then if no one objects, Mr. Flanagan is now East Rivers new Vice Mayor."
Several people clapped around the room, Mr. Flanagan nodded to everyone with a smile, then took his seat. Then over the remainder of the afternoon different positions were filled.
Next to be unanimously voted in to lead the militia forces as the ERM Commander was a retired Match Fighter, by the name of Gillian Taws. He was over fifty years old, however, if it weren't for his pepper-colored brown hair and his extremely well-built physic, he would still look to be in his early thirty's. After being voted for, Gillian announced that he would be going to stop the rioters that were destroying the town.
"Before you go, we need to be able to distinguish you and the rest of the militia troops from ordinary people." Nathan announced thoughtfully.
Nathan quickly started scanning around the warehouse floor for anything that might be of use to fix this issue. Then he spotted some crates labeled "Sheets" and had a sudden idea. He got up to come over to check on them while everyone looked on. Nathan pulled out a six-inch pocketknife he always kept in his back pocket, for protection, and pried open the closest crate. Inside was a bunch of folded dark green cotton sheets. Pulling one out he seemed satisfied that his plan might work and then turned towards everyone to explain it.
"Let's use these sheets to help solve the issue. We can cut them up into small strips and tie them around our arms to help identify ourselves. Eventually we can make new bands and sew on the ERM letters to look more official." Nathan explained while cutting a part off and tying it around his own left arm. Nathan knew he had to take the initiative to get the others on board. Fortunately, no one objected to this simple and easy to implement idea.
"Sounds good to me." Gillian replied coming over to Nathan and getting a strip of the sheet to tie around his own arm. "Anyone here not looking to get a spot on the committee, but still wants to help, come get a strip of this sheet and follow me so we can stop the looting quickly."
Roughly twenty people, of whom were mainly standing away from the table, joined up with Gillian's proposal. They too tied the green sheet strips around their arms. After they all had left, Nathan continued forming the committee.
Jill Smithy was voted to be the Treasurer. She was a former bank finance manager and already was known to be helpful with others in managing their finances during these harsh times. She was an aging lady with pail blond hair and thick stature. Mrs. Smithy seemed to be rather quick witted, and no one questioned whether she could fit the role or not. She also put in her motion to volunteer quite adamantly stating that no one else her understood finances anywhere as good as she did. Hearing this Nathan couldn’t agree more, as he himself was not very economically minded.
Joshua Zimmerman was voted to be the head of the Judiciary committee. He was also a former judge in the town. Fortunately for the ERM he had been unwilling to leave when the town was destroyed years ago. This was simply because his family had been living there for decades. Mr. Zimmerman had mentioned after being voted for that he still had all the law books in his private library at home, so starting over wouldn't be too difficult.
The last notable position to be filled was the Head of Records. The position wasn't normally all too important, but since the town had no power to keep track of who owned what on a computer, it now had to be done the old-fashioned way. By using just paper and ink. The lady that finally volunteered for the unwanted position was Nelly Havens. She had been a university teacher at Texas A&M before she had moved here, to only to get trapped by the town's destruction during the last bombings.
Everyone else filled other minor roles to assist the higher positions, like secretaries or work assistants. Those that were not voted for or voluntarily chose to work, were in total about forty people. Nathan asked that those remaining go help Gillian with the rioters or if not just to leave for the time being. About ten decided to go to Gillian and claimed green strips for themselves, while the rest left the warehouse.
After everything had been settled politically and Gillian was already handing the looting issue, Nathan decided to start working on the next issue of importance: Finances.
"Now we need to figure out how we are going to pay for all this government work. I think that after the rioters have been stopped, we need to figure out who owns what. This way we can go search every house, store or building to determine what we can sell, use, or make to earn a profit. Until then, all our positions will be voluntary with no pay." Nathan explained and some of the people murmured to each other. He ignored them and continued. "This won't be permanent. I understand we all need to support our family's and lives, but this is all we can do for now. Once we figure out what we have, only then can we sell stuff to merchants in the south and get some money or goods flowing in our budding economy."
Treasurer Jill voiced her agreement, "I can agree with this for now. As we have no budget, we can only start from scratch. Starting up a trade route will definitely be a step in the right direction."
"Thank you, Mrs. Smithy." Nathan said nodding in her direction.
"Now as for the Black Rats we have captured so far, Mr. Zimmerman, I hope you can try them as soon as possible. I trust you will also consider that we have no jail or means to keep them fed at the moment. So, you'll need to be a bit harsh in judgement for now. Eventually we can return to the ways things ought to go in a proper court." Nathan stated though he was unsure if the old lawyer would be willing to bend the rules a bit.
"I will see what I can do. However, the top leaders of the gang I won't tolerate. You can rest assured they will be punished severely." Mr. Zimmerman replied resolutely. "All that they have done to us is irreversible and condemnable. I can let the rules be bent on this occasion."
"That's good to hear." Nathan nodded felling slightly relieved. Then he noticed that the sun light in the room was beginning to dim, and they had no candles or fire to continue the meeting.
"I think this is as far as we can go for today." Nathan announced rising from his chair. "We can meet back here tomorrow to finish the rest of the committee's formation. Please get home safe."
The people all got up in agreement, it had been a long afternoon. The town at night definitely was not a safe place for anyone to be in. Another set of issues to deal with at another time. Everyone had left so far except for Nathan and Vice Mayor, Henry Flanagan.
Mr. Flanagan turned to Nathan and clapped a hand on his shoulder while a sharp smile was played out on his thin face. "You surprised me today. I didn't expect someone so young to do so well at handling everything like you did on their first try. But if you ever feel like you can't handle the situation, I can always be there to help."
Nathan smiled and replied, "Thank you. I will keep that in mind. I will always try my best."
"Good man. I’ll be sure to see you bright and early tomorrow." Mr. Flanagan said patting him heavily on the shoulder before turning to leave.
Watching him go out the door, Nathan felt slightly uneasy. "I know what Mr. Flanagan said was alright, but it was how he said it that made me feel like he would rather lead than follow me. I best keep my wits about me."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone