by King, Ryan
Nathan made David sit down once there was an opportunity. "You know that your actions probably saved the JP."
"A lot of people would disagree," said David tense.
"Those people don't know what they're talking about," answered Nathan. "You were thinking when everyone else was losing their heads. If you had not done what you did, me and my force would have likely been killed after coming upon a superior force."
David squirmed, "But the dam, they say it's my fault everyone still doesn't have electricity."
"They don't know shit," said Nathan. "The dam was broken long before this. You saved us son. You did well, I'm proud of you."
A heavy weight appeared to lift off David's shoulders. He smiled at his father like he'd used to, before the dark times. David returned to his platoon, light in his step.
Nathan’s troops were also busy cleaning up after the battle. There were more prisoners than expected, and when not burying their comrades, they helped clear the debris from the locks, or were interrogated. Nathan felt the need to personally supervise this task since he knew how easy it was for interrogations to get out of control. Walter Beale’s earlier interrogation brought this home to Nathan. These interrogations, combined with the battle and Joshua’s information from the south, necessitated Nathan’s hurried dispatch to General Anderson. Despite the seriousness of the information he sent to General Anderson, he was surprised to see him at the dam within several days. He was even more shocked to see Reggie Phillips with him.
Reggie looked horrible. He was pale, drawn, and his normally engaging eyes were heavy and clouded. Several State Troopers with assault rifles followed behind them. They weren’t taking any more chances.
“Good morning gentlemen,” said Nathan. “I’m surprised you are here. My apologies for not greeting you.”
“No problem, Colonel Taylor,” said Anderson. “We needed to see the damage to the dam ourselves. I also wanted to see the site of the first battle of the new world. I have to say it doesn’t look a whole lot different from other battlefields I’ve experienced.” Anderson stated this while staring at the grave digging parties.
“No, sir, it doesn’t,” said Nathan soberly.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” said Reggie as he walked over to see the work at the locks, his bodyguards in tow.
“How’s he holding up?” asked Nathan.
Anderson sighed, “As good as can be expected I guess. Janice is still alive, that’s something. Life is a fragile thing.”
“True enough,” said Nathan wondering if Anderson was thinking of his deceased wife.
Anderson looked at Nathan directly and spoke abruptly. “You don’t like me very much do you? Why is that exactly?”
Nathan was taken aback. “Sir, I…guess it’s the circumstances under which we met. You forced me into a decision.”
Anderson nodded, “Maybe, but these times call us to things we wouldn’t choose for ourselves. I was happily retired before Reggie put me in a similar position.” He looked away and back at the digging. “I’m too old for this and was content to spend my time in gardening and reading, but that was not what was demanded of me.”
Nathan was surprised at the General’s openness. A self-important, pompous man would not speak this way. Maybe I haven't been fair.
“Nathan,” said Anderson, “I wish I could apologize to you, but I can’t without lying because I’m glad you’re with us. You saved our bacon here and without you I’m not sure what we would have done. So…I understand you may not like me, but we have to be able to trust each other and work together for the benefit of everyone else. I know you will, but I want us to mutually respect and trust one another. That sort of thing takes time and is a two-way street. So I want you to hear me say that I respect the hell out of you and thank you for what you’ve done.”
Nathan was floored and started to mumble something, maybe even an apology, but the general didn’t give him a chance.
“Now let’s talk about your dispatches. I understand and can see the situation regarding the battle. How many prisoners did you take?”
“One hundred seventy-two,” said Nathan. “We’ve screened and interrogated all of them. Some warrant further follow-up, but the gem was a Captain Hamlin, who most recently worked on Sampson’s staff. He’s the one who gave up the enemy dispositions which were confirmed by the bits and pieces we got from others.”
“Do I even want to know how you got him to give up that information?” asked Anderson.
Nathan smiled. “Don’t worry, we promised future privileges to his men. It wasn’t that hard actually. They were scared stiff we were going to torture them to death.”
“Yes, that would never happen, right?” asked Anderson.
“General,” said Nathan, feeling the old suspicion coming back. “You said we had to trust each other, so I’ll be straight. I’ve done a lot of interrogations in my time, but torture never works.”
“Really?” Anderson raised an eyebrow.
“No,” said Nathan. “People will tell you whatever they think will make you stop. It also makes the torturer a monster once he goes down that road. It’s real hard to come back from that. On the other hand, the fear of torture, is exceptionally effective,” Nathan added.
“I see,” said Anderson. “Is that what you did with Walter Beale?”
Nathan was silent for a moment, “No. With him I did something different. An idealist is more difficult. I’d rather not get into it, just trust that I got everything of use out of him.”
“Okay,” said Anderson. “We’ll come back to Beale in a moment, but as far as the WTR forces…we know most of their troops are poised to the north around Fulton for an invasion?”
“With the exception of another group somewhere to the south,” answered Nathan. “No one is sure exactly where that force is or what it’s doing.”
“And their border to your south is still wide open?”
“Yes, and as far as they’re concerned, we’re none the wiser,” said Nathan.
Anderson sighed and nodded. “Nathan, I’m sure you know as well as I the situation. We’re outnumbered and outgunned, but this information presents us with a unique opportunity.”
“Yes, we can attack south, turn west and catch their forces on the flank at the same time we attack south from Fulton catching them in the middle.”
“Precisely,” said Anderson. “How fast can you prepare for such a mission?"
Nathan thought, “We could probably be ready to go in a week, maybe five days if we push it.”
“Sorry,” said Anderson, “but you need to start three days from now at the latest. It’s already been decided. We’ll need you to hit them in the flank one week from today. I know that’s tight, but this opportunity might slip away.”
Nathan just dropped his head and sighed. He knew better than to argue. “Okay, we’ll do it. I figure we can attack with close to two reinforced companies, but that will leave a skeleton crew here mostly focused on getting the dam back up and running.”
“I understand. It’s a risk worth taking. Just make sure you have a good man leading that advance.”
“As far as the leader, that would be me,” said Nathan.
“Sorry again, Nathan,” said Anderson. “You can’t do it, and I’ll explain why in a minute. Harold is also out. Who else?”
“Well,” replied Nathan, “Captain Green is the logical choice and his company has yet to see action. They would be the main component of the attack force.”
“Sounds good,” said Anderson. “Please let me know if you need anything to get ready, or if for some reason you are delayed; but for goodness sake, don’t let there be any delays.”
“We’ll do our best. Now can you tell me why I can’t lead it?”
“Because you’re being promoted,” said Anderson.
“Promoted?” asked Nathan, “To what? Your job?”
“No,” smiled Anderson. “Although I would welcome it. No, the past few weeks have highlighted our complete def
iciency in intelligence and information gathering. That lack has come close to destroying us, especially given that the WTR is light years ahead of us in this regard. Since you are the only professional intelligence officer anyone around here knows of, you’re the logical choice for the post.”
“What post?” asked Nathan slowly.
“You’re to be the head of the new JP Central Intelligence Agency.”
“Are you serious?” asked Nathan. “Give me a break.”
“Okay, I made up the whole CIA thing, you can call it whatever you want, but I’m serious about the job. We need for you to organize and start an intelligence service that gets us information. We also need you to catch Sampson’s spies and assassins as fast as possible.”
Nathan felt flummoxed. “Do you understand how large a task that will be? What are my resources? What is my budget? Do I even have a budget? What is my authority? How many people do I get?”
“All good questions that I don’t have the answer to yet,” said Anderson. “And honestly I doubt if anyone else does. We’re going to need you to do it all. Design it, build it, and get it running fast. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, you will work directly for President Phillips, and…you’re now Brigadier General Taylor…congratulations.”
“And who is to take over here?”
Anderson nodded, “Yes, that has been decided as well, Harold Buchannan will be promoted and assume the post as the LBL Military Governor. I believe he is a good man and will do well.”
“He is and he will,” agreed Nathan.
Reggie walked back up to them and said abruptly, “Let’s talk about Beale and what you got out of him.”
Nathan hesitated, but Anderson nodded. “He was recruited by a skilled handler who took advantage of Mr. Beale’s insecurities and fantasies. Beale didn’t know much about ‘Gabriel’, only had a phone number.”
“I understand you got the phone to go along with the number,” said Reggie. “What can we do with it?”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about that myself,” answered Nathan. “Before N-Day, we could have done plenty, now are options are limited. Once the electricity comes back up we can check it against internal phones records and see if there is any other contact to this number, but…I doubt we’ll find anything.”
“Why is that?” asked Anderson.
“Because this ‘Gabriel’ strikes me as a professional. He understands operational security meaning that phone number was for Beale alone.”
“What about the code words your report mentioned?” asked Reggie.
Nathan sighed, “I thought about that too. We might mislead them and send the message for success, but their other spies probably know by now that the assassination was unsuccessful.”
“So there’s nothing we can do with it?” asked Anderson.
“Not really,” answered Nathan.
“Give me the phone,” said Reggie abruptly.
Nathan was uncertain what to say or do, “Sir…there’s nothing…”
“Get me that phone and punch in the number…now,” ordered Reggie.
Nathan looked to Anderson for support who simply nodded. Nathan called over his aide who ran off to retrieve the phone. A few minutes later he returned handing the black satellite phone to Nathan who held onto it looking at Reggie.
“Dial the number,” said Reggie.
“Perhaps we should think about this first,” said Nathan.
Reggie had the sternest face Nathan had ever seen on him. “Colonel Taylor, are you refusing to dial the number?”
Nathan sighed, “No, sir.” He took a few moments to acquire signal and then dialed the number from a sheet of paper the aide provided, hit ‘send’, and handed the phone to Reggie uncertain what was going to happen.
Reggie put the phone to his ear and after several rings, heard the ringing stop and the line go active. “Who is this?” asked Reggie.
Silence at the other end.
“This is President Reggie Phillips the duly elected leader of the Jackson Purchase. You need to know that your assassination attempt on my life failed, but it did cost my wife her leg. Walter Beale is also dead.”
Silence at the other end, not even breathing.
Reggie continued, “I suspect you wanted to time my death with your attack on the dam in order to catch us by surprise and cause as much chaos as possible. Both have failed miserably and caused great suffering and loss of life. I don’t know what your plans are for those forces to the south, but you had better rethink them. We’re on to you and we’re ready.”
More silence. Reggie looked at the phone display to ensure he was still connected.
“Cease your aggression and we can work to try to live with each other peacefully. The world has destroyed itself and here the ragged remnants are trying to do it again. It’s ridiculous and inconceivable.”
Reggie took a deep breath. “I’m willing to overlook your attack on my life and the hurt you have done my wife in the best interest of both our people. Cease the attacks, stand down the military, and let’s talk this out. There’s still time.”
There was silence on the line for perhaps ten seconds, before the other end disconnected the call.
Chapter 5 - Disappointment
Ethan’s source network and communications systems were so good that he generally knew what happened in the JP before the JP leadership did, especially now that they were without electricity and phones. Ethan had also used his considerable power to collect every satellite phone within the WTR, and after combining these with crank chargers, provided the perfect means of communicating instantly over long distances. The world may be dead he thought, but those satellites up in orbit just keep on trucking.
The satellite phones were provided to key sources within the JP. They used these phones to call and relay information to their respective source handlers, all of whom worked for Ethan and were personally trained by him…except for Walter Beale. That mission had been so sensitive that he could not entrust it to another. The assassination failure was disappointing, but not a great loss. The JP would be scared of further attempts and expend resources to protect against it. Ethan admitted that the one sided “conversation” he had with Reggie Phillips was somewhat surprising, but again of no real concern.
Overall, his spy network worked well and efficiently. Sometimes too efficiently Ethan told himself as he ended a meeting with his operations officer. This man had the daunting task of collecting all the intelligence reports and providing the information to Ethan. He in turn provided taskings for the numerous spy handlers operating throughout the extended area. They already knew of the embarrassing and frustrating raid along the border which resulted in the loss of three of their tanks. Sampson was beside himself with fury, promising dire punishments for those responsible. Ethan noticed that Sampson’s behavior over the past few weeks had become more irrational and unpredictable. He was concerned how this latest news would affect him.
Ethan looked at his watch and knew it was nearly time for his briefing to the General. He walked over to his office, mentally prepared himself, and then knocked.
“What?” yelled Sampson.
“Sir, it’s Ethan.”
“Get in here!” yelled the gruff voice. Ethan walked in as Sampson motioned him to sit and jumped right to business. “So, any news about the dam?”
“Actually yes, sir, and I’m afraid it isn’t good,” said Ethan.
Sampson’s face reddened, “It better be! I’ve had enough bad news. First, your moron fails to kill Phillips, then your lack of warning allows them to steal my tanks, and now something else? You better have good news for me.”
“Sir,” started Ethan hesitantly, “the entire force was lost, but the good news is that the dam itself may be damaged beyond repair. We also know that the lakes are gone due to the damage our forces inflicted on the dam.” Ethan saw that the news wasn’t being received well. “Sir, if you remember, we knew this was a gamble to begin with; but we thought it worth the risk if there was a chance t
o capture the dam. Barring that, we wanted to at least destroy it so the enemy couldn’t use it. In that regard it is a partial success, and we have certainly destroyed many of their troops. And we dealt the JP populace a crushing psychological blow.”
“I don’t want to hear about partial victories!” growled Sampson, jumping up and slamming his hand down on the table. “We should be rolling over those losers! We should be achieving victory on every front! Instead we’re taking solace in the silver linings!” Sampson stood there for a minute, fuming. “I’m starting to wonder if someone isn’t against me.”
“Sir?” asked Ethan.
“You know what I mean,” said Sampson impatiently. “Someone on our side is sabotaging our efforts. Sabotaging me. Someone maybe even close to me.”
Ethan felt like he was on dangerous ground with someone over whom he might no longer have control. He decided to change the subject. “Are we still going forward with our other surprise attack given our recent setbacks?”
Sampson thought for a moment. “Yes. Yes, we must. Victory is all that is acceptable. We must keep moving forward.”
Ethan recommended in, what he hoped was, a neutral tone, “Sir, might I recommend that we either postpone the attack or coordinate it with another attack to spread the enemy defenses.”
Sampson rubbed his chin and looked at Ethan with what Ethan thought might be a suspicious look. “No postponement. But a coordinated attack might not be a bad idea. We could use the force up near the border and push north when the other force hits on the Mississippi. Catch ‘em by surprise. Might even get my tanks back.”
Ethan started to tell him the other bit of news. News that might cause Sampson to rethink using the force near the border. He had heard sketchy reports that the LBL forces were preparing for something big, possibly an offensive. Ethan agonized over this and felt it was possible that the JP had uncovered the ruse and knew the southern border was paper thin. The JP also knew the WTR northern force was near Fulton and that its eastern flank was exposed. Ethan thought it was a stretch, but he had to assume that the JP forces were going to attack the northern force in a combined operation from the north and southwest. He started to tell Sampson this when Sampson started talking again.
