“If you don’t mind, I’ll gather the others and we can start this afternoon.”
“The sooner the better,” the President replied.
“What about Cox? Do you want her included?” Folly asked.
“Humm. I think we should hold off on that. I don’t want any leaks to accidentally get out while we are working on this. I do think we should have her put together something about the meeting with Senator Dryfus. Something that is upbeat and positive.”
“And she should also do a story about the upcoming meeting with General Ascot. Play up the peace aspect of the meeting. The healing of wounds. That kind of thing,” MacMillan offered.
“Excellent I like that. It should play well if we could tie it in to the meeting with Dryfus. That may be a stretch but let’s see what she can do with it,” the President said.
“I’ll get her started,” Folly offered.
“Good. Now tell me about your upcoming meeting with Admiral Swanson,” the President said turning to MacMillan.
“All I know right now is that she said some things are going on that were bothering her. She was willing to sit down and listen to what we have to say.”
“Are you comfortable with that? I mean she wouldn’t report this back to General Ascot would she?”
“Sir, I am absolutely certain of that. She was our inside source at the White House at great risk to herself. Knowing Quasim and Cole, they would have had her shot if they had even had an inkling that she was the source of the leaks.”
“Alright General, you know I trust your judgment and if you say she is solid, then she is solid.”
“I’ll report back after we meet. Speaking of which, I had better get it in gear. I need to go pick her up. I know you have met at the White House before but do you want me to bring her by here?” MacMillan asked.
“If you have time. I think it would be nice for her to know that everyone is behind her decision if she chooses to join us,” Jason told him.
“Consider it done. Now if you all will excuse me.”
****
“Where is Admiral Swanson,” General Ascot asked.
“She is visiting ships for the next couple of days. She is getting battle assessments for you in case you want to move against the Mexican army.”
“You have to admire that woman. Not only is she a great asset but she certainly knows how to keep the fleet in preparedness,” Ascot replied.
“She always seems to anticipate exactly what you are going to need. I certainly giver her credit for that,” General Erickson added.
“Good military officer,” Ascot concluded.
CHAPTER NINE
VIRGINIA
Bruce Hubbard was now making good time after his first harrowing experience of crossing the North Carolina-Virginia boarder. What he soon discovered was that he was going to have to stay on Virginia for much longer than he had hoped. If fact it was taking him Northwest when he wanted to be going Northeast.
It wasn’t until he found State Route 615 that he could turn back east. By the time he finally reached Interstate 85 it was dark and getting cold. He found a small hotel and stopped for the night.
There was no restaurant open so he ate candy bars, chips and a coke from the vending machines. The only luggage he had was his backpack and the gun case. Only two other cars were in the parking lot. Not many people had a reason to travel.
He got back underway early the next morning heading up Interstate 85. When he got to Richmond he ground to a halt. Smoke was still rising from where some of the houses and buildings had been leveled by the American Republic. His plan had been to loop around the city but even that was impossible. The roads were littered with cars, trucks, and overpasses that had been toppled. He was forced to backtrack and take a number of secondary roads. It was another three hours before he was able to pick up I-95 heading to Washington. He was forced to stop just outside of Fredericksburg when a torrential thunderstorm swept through the area. The weather was turning colder and he didn’t bring anything warm. He found a Wal-Mart and bought a heaver coat and some boots before starting out again. The CJ-7 heater didn’t exactly keep him warm, especially with the top flapping and air gaps around the doors.
He finally rolled into Alexandria, Virginia just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. Now he could begin his search for Quasim and Cole in earnest. His mind was at ease. He had lost everything he loved and owned in the bombing of Knoxville. He held President Quasim and Vice President Hanna Cole responsible and he was going to get his measure of revenge.
****
“General Ascot, I think we may have a slight problem,” Secretary of Labor, Richard Newhouse, said as soon as he was shown in to his office.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard yet. A slight problem instead one of the big ones we are up against,” he said chuckling.
“This where you are supposed to say, ‘there are no problems, just opportunities?’” he quipped.
“Yeah, but we both know that's a pile of manure. So tell me what our problem is.”
“Stan Foster.”
“Stan Foster of the NATCA?”
“The very same.”
“He is such a jerk. I have talked to him twice already. Now what is his problem?” Ascot asked.
“According to Foster, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association cannot be forced to have military personnel replace their regular controllers.”
“You know, for a supposedly smart man he is awfully dumb at times. Somehow he just doesn’t seem to get it. I don’t give a rat's ass what his Association allows. We have military aircraft using every available air field. We will have military air traffic controllers on board to get those planes off the ground and landed safely.”
“I understand. I’ve told him that in no uncertain terms but he is threatening either legal action or a strike.”
The General broke out laughing, “Well good luck with either of those. There will be no legal action against the government period, so he can just drop that crap. As for a strike, tell him to go ahead. We have more than an ample amount of personnel to handle replacing his people. There will be no picket lines, of that you can assure him,” Ascot told him.
“So basically you want me to tell him tough cookies and to get out if he doesn’t like it.”
“Exactly. You can put it in your own words but just get the message across. Tell him if he doesn’t like it to come see me directly. I would be happy to explain it in terms even a dumbass can understand. Anything else?” he asked.
“It’s just a logistics problem. We need to get more large scoop shovels into Richmond and Boston. Can we get the Air Force to load some on planes and deliver them?”
“Not a problem. I can have a couple of C-5A deliver them if they have the airport open.”
“C-5A? Is that a big plane?”
The General chuckled, “Not many come larger. Maybe a Russian one but everything else pretty much pales by comparison.
“That would be wonderful. I’ll start rounding up equipment and get it over to Andrews Air Base.”
“It might be a little tight for Andrews but that would the best place probably.”
“Wow. Those things must be really big.”
“Richard, you have no idea.”
****
Bruce Hubbard spent four long days listening to people talk, watching the news and reading the papers to try to get a line on where the ex-President and Vice President were being held.
He chased down a half dozen false leads. He wasn’t discouraged but he knew that it could take months at this rate to finally find out where they were held. The one thing all the rumors had in common was that they were someplace in Georgetown.
He moved to a small hotel near N Street and Wisconsin Avenue. He found there was a small local hangout bar just a block from his hotel. He decided that would become his main place to pick up the local gossip. If they were being held in Georgetown, someone would talk about it sooner or later. He would just have to be pa
tient for now; after all he wasn’t in a big hurry. He had nothing to go back to.
CHAPTER TEN
NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The F-16D eased toward its touchdown on runway 20L. Smoke drifted off the tires briefly as the plane touched the tarmac. Admiral Jane Swanson let the fighter plane roll a ways before reversing the engines and turning to wind her way to the Air National Guard facility.
Shutting the engine down and opening the canopy bubble, Admiral Swanson pulled herself up and climbed out of the aircraft. A National Guardsman stopped and talked to her a moment after saluting.
Swanson, fifty-six and tall with brown hair and a youthful figure walked toward the Flight Operations Building. General MacMillan stepped out and offered his hand rather than waiting for her to salute him. He was senior in rank but he didn’t want that to be the issue on this particular day.
“Jane, look at you. I swear, I get older and you seem to get younger looking every time I see you.”
“And you haven’t improved on your bullshitting one bit either,” she said laughing.
“Okay, maybe a little, but you do look great. Still wringing the dickens out of the F-16?”
“Every chance I get.”
“How much time can you give me?” MacMillan asked.
“Two or three hours.”
“That will give us a chance to go to the Capital. President Jason would like to see you if you can spare the time.”
“The last time I saw him he was being banished from further meetings because he didn’t agree with the direction the President was headed,” she replied.
“Do you want to change or stay in your flight suit?”
“I didn’t bring anything with me so the suit will have to do.”
“Then I have a car and driver waiting. We can talk on the way to the Capital.”
“Lead the way,” she said.
****
Once they were in the car and headed toward downtown Nashville, the General said, “Jane, I know you are taking a big risk by even coming here so I will get right to the point if that is alright with you.”
“Mac, I have never known you to beat around the bush. I would expect nothing less.”
“Good. The American Republic is not going to rejoin the United States. At least not for some time. We firmly believe we can make a better country on our own. One that does not need the government interfering in every aspect of our daily lives. We intend to streamline the Judicial System, Legislative System and how we handle foreign relations,” he told her, watching to see her reaction.
Admiral Swanson was far too seasoned to give away anything by her body language.
“Our financial policy will demand that the Republic not put the country into debt. A balanced budget will be required by law. The President, with only a few exceptions, has to submit one that meets the criteria.”
“And in a war situation?”
“Obviously that is one of the exceptions. However, we have a check stop measure that will keep the President from going to war without meeting certain criteria.”
“And what would some of those criteria be?” Jane asked.
“It would require the support of the military. It will require an agreement of a majority of the states, to name two.”
“So you are saying that the President is essentially no longer the Commander-in-Chief, is that right?”
“Exactly. The President and his advisors will not be running any wars from the Capital.”
“And you agree to this?”
“I do. I know the risk of a military coup but that could be done if the military wanted to at any time.”
“I’m not sure I agree, but go on,” Jane replied.
“Those that want to work, will have a chance. We will have plenty of jobs for everyone with the devastation caused by the war. After that, we will have a system similar to what they had after World War Two. Something along the lines of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Our infrastructure is in poor condition. Bridges, Railroads and Interstates all need a tremendous amount of work.”
“It sounds a little Utopian to me,” Jane mused.
“Utopian? No. A better way of running the country? Absolutely. Small businesses will play a vital role in the nation once again. Much of the red tape will be disposed of. Capitalism will continue but be structured differently. Everyone will pay their equal share of taxes, from the President on down.”
“You are going to revamp the tax codes?”
“Oh, yes. And a lot more.”
“We are here sir,” the driver said opening the door.
They had been so intent that they didn’t even realize they had arrived at the Capital Building.
“Well, that was some introduction,” Jane said, taking Mac’s hand as he helped her out of the car.
“That is just the tip of the iceberg,” he assured her.
Over the next two hours he briefed her on his vision for the military as a unit and how it would play into the political make-up of the nation. He went as far as to tell her that the President of the Republic would not have the same powers as in the days of the United States of America. It would be a performance based position just like any other business.
By the time she left, after dropping in to see the President and spending a few minutes with him, she had quite a lot to think about.
****
Bruce was nursing his third Guinness listening to the banter at the bar. The bartender, probably in his late fifties, was talking to three younger men. They had come in shortly after he had and sat down a couple of stools away. They were on their fourth pitcher of beer. The din of the crowd made it hard to hear everything that was being said but they were definitely talking about the ex-president.
“Hey, I’m glad the bastard is gone. I can’t see one thing he did that made my life easier.”
“Ah hell, Sean, you don’t like him because of his name.”
“Well there is that. Sounds like one of them towelheads to me.”
“He was born in the US.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he is the President for goodnessakes.”
“Anyway, I’m just saying, good riddance.”
“What do you think they will do with him?” the third guy asked.
“That’s a good question. What the hell do you do with an ex-president that has been forcibly removed from office?”
“I know what I would like to do with Cole. That woman is just pure evil. They should put her some place where she will never see sun again. I detest that woman.”
“Ah hell, Gil, tell us how you really feel. No, don’t hold back now.”
“Well they are gonna’ have to do something with them. I mean you can’t keep them cooped up at the Palace forever.”
“It damn sure is nicer than they deserve. They ought to be in jail,” Sean replied.
“Turn 'em over to the American Republic and let them deal with them,” Gil offered.
By this time, Bruce had quit listening. He finished his ale, paid his bar tab and headed back to his room.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MILWAUKEE, WI
The meeting between General Ascot of the United States and President Jason of the American Republic was to be held in Milwaukee. Wisconsin was still considered a neutral state at this time having never taken a position during the Civil War.
The two leaders would fly into General Mitchell International Airport and be transported to the nearby Hilton. They had agreed to bring only one other person with each of them to take notes and occasionally advise.
Ascot had decided to take General Amblin and President Jason was bringing Mary Lake since her area of responsibility was External Affairs.
The room was nothing more than a suite that had been reserved for their use. A low table and four chairs sat in the center of the outer room. A small refrigerator held an abundance of bottled water and soft drinks. The four were the only occupants.
“I guess since I initiated the cont
act I should be the one to go first if it’s alright with you, President Jason.”
“Please,” he said, opening a bottle of water.
“I’m sure you know the same as we do that the death toll from the Civil War is at two million American lives. Many more will die over the next months as a result of burns, wounds, and other reasons associated with the war. When I called, I just could not in good conscience allow the killing to continue. Fortunately for me, you were of a like mind. I applaud you for that,” the General said, warming to the speech.
“It was the only thing that reasonable people could do. I appreciate your saying that but I would have been a total fool to want to continue to tear the country apart,” Jason answered.
“We have placed ex-President Quasim and Vice President Cole under house arrest. At this point I am not exactly sure what should be done with them. I see them as traitors to the United States of America but I’m sure many others hail them as martyrs. We have considered turning them over to you if you want to deal with them,” Ascot said.
“No, I don’t think that would be wise. No matter what we did it would be viewed as wrong.”
“What if you tried them but gave them a suspended sentence and banned them from the Republic? We would, of course, not allow them back into the United States,” Ascot offered.
“Let me give that some thought. We can come back to that point later. What I would really like to discuss is how we will treat the borders of our two countries. How the economics of the two nations can be handled and how to avoid bloodshed on a long term basis. I don’t want another ‘Cold War’ mentality creeping in. How you control your country is an internal affair and one that we will honor and keep out of,” Jason assured him.
“And we will do likewise. I certainly agree that neither of us can stand another arms race,” the General said.
“I sense a ‘But’,” Jason said.
“We have two major concerns. The first is Mexico and the other is a worry about other nations thinking they can waltz in and take over our country while are weak. We are an eastern seaboard country mainly and that makes us more vulnerable than you.”
A NATION HEALING - BOOK III The Second Civil War (The Second Civil War - BOOK III 1) Page 4
