REVENGE: Shelter Book 6 (The Shelter)

by Ira Tabankin

  Sitting up and shaking his head to clear it, Jay says,

  “Come in.”

  Fred enters carrying a pile of paperwork.

  “Hi boss, I have a few items that need your signature.”

  “That looks like a hell of a lot more than a few.”

  “Since we don’t have all of the department head positions filled, it falls on you.”

  “Remind me to fill the open positions ASAP. All this paperwork is killing me.”

  “I warned you this would happen. I suggested some people to fill the positions.”

  “Bring their resumes to the morning meeting. What in that pile of paper is urgent?’

  “First thing is the town hall meetings, General Arthur and I want to change your schedule. We suggest starting in one direction and working your way in a circle versus going back and forth.”

  “Since Lacy is coming with me, arrange it as you think will be best. Put me on the plane and tell me where to go next, wind me up and I’ll say what I’m supposed to.”

  “Yeah right. What’s wrong? You never agree to anything that easily. What’s bothering you? Lacy is coming along, the Doc is coming with you, General Arthur is sending a heavily armed security team for your protection, what else is bothering you?”

  Jay pauses, getting up, he walks around the office,

  “I’m concerned, no, make that worried about the election and the North. I worry they’re going to do something to screw with the election and in the confusion, attack us.”

  “If the plan you and Admiral Jefferson cooked up succeeds they won’t be able to attack us.”

  “That’s only if they fall for his plan and he succeeds, there are too many variables in the formula to ensure its success. Too many loose ends, everything has to fall into place at just the right time. I don’t like plans with loose ends. I like plans that ensure success.”

  “Jay, you of all people know such plans don’t exist in war. The best plans fall apart when the enemy is engaged. There’s no way to plan for every contingency the North or any enemy may do. You agreed his plan was good, and the General’s additions increased the success possibilities. Why are you so worried?”

  “Because I know the SOB in the White House, there’s a good chance he won’t fall for the trap or he’ll hit us where we’re not expecting it.”

  “Where do you think he’ll hit us, if not the Admiral’s fleet?”

  “Where we’re the weakest. It’s what I’d do. Why do we think he won’t do the same thing we would?”

  “Because he tends to react emotionally versus logically. Granted, he’s harder to predict because he usually doesn’t follow a logical progression, he’s all about his programs and his legacy. He’s willing to sacrifice anything in order to ensure his progressive policies form the new foundation of what’s left of the North. He’s afraid of our military strength, his staff will tell him the Admiral’s Task Force represents a true and real danger to him. He will move against the Admiral; he will react to the threat.”

  “I think he may make a play to take me out at one of the town hall meetings.”

  “Which is why you’ll be surrounded by Colonel Black’s security detail.”

  “Fred, it’s hard to show the people we’re different from the North, we’ve got to show them our definition of transparency is different from the North’s. I want the people to know who we are and we’re really listening to their concerns if they see me surrounded by a squad of heavily armed troops, I’ll look like a dictator. All I’ll need is a red armband. I need to look the people in their eyes and be approachable. I can’t do that with the troops standing between the people and me. No wall, no teleprompter, I want to stand on the stage and talk with the people. If you have to screen them coming in, that’s fine.”

  “Jay, whoa, do you have a death wish? Anyone in the crowd could have a gun, a crowbar, a knife which they lunge at you, taking you down. The people will understand the need for your safety, they know what a baby the North’s President is. Do you think the Confederacy will survive without you?”

  “Yes, I do. The country is stronger than any single person. That’s the thought process which turned the North upside down, it’s what the President thinks, he rules like he knows what’s best for everyone, he doesn’t allow anyone to disagree with him. Look, if the people have a concealed carry permit, we know they’ve been screened, so let’s tell them, they can carry if they have a concealed carry card.”

  “You have a death wish.”

  “We can talk with the general at tomorrow’s staff meeting. Can we discuss the schedule change?”

  “Sure, what are you suggesting?”

  “You start in Richmond.”

  “Richmond, Virginia? Why there of all places? I thought we were going to hold the last meeting in Norfolk when the Chinese Ambassador and I sign the treaty.”

  “The Chinese asked to move the treaty signing up, they have a fleet in transit to Norfolk, we want Admiral Jefferson to arrive with the Chinese fleet. Kind of keeping them honest.”

  “Don’t tell me you don’t trust our new allies.”

  “I believe in trust, but verify, a very smart man said that about the old Soviet Union.”

  “I’m old enough to remember the speech. Okay, show me the new schedule.”

  “It’s very tight, I’m worried if Lacy can handle it.”

  “She might have to stay on the plane or hotel for a few of the meetings. Why not hold the meetings in the hotels?”

  “We don’t want the people to be in the same hotel, what happens if one is a suicide bomber?”

  “Okay, I understand. Just tell me.”

  “Jay, before I announce it, are you sure you want to do this? No one is making you hold these meetings, no one is asking for them. You’re bringing the pressure and stress on yourself.”

  “I know, I believe the people have a right to hear our plans from my mouth, they have a right to ask me whatever they want. They have a right to know what their government is doing and why.”

  “You’re not going to limit what they can ask?”

  “Nope, if I don’t know, I’ll tell them I don’t know. There won’t be any bullshit, we’ll tell them the truth, even if it’s not what they want to hear.”

  “You have a martyr complex, don’t you?”

  “No, we used to be them, we were pissed off, we would have done anything to be able to tell our so called leaders what we really thought, why shouldn’t we as the leaders give the people the very thing we wanted?”

  “I assume you’re going to have the meetings recorded and uploaded to the web?”

  “In real time, yes. The people can ask questions via the web.”

  “This is going to turn into a circus.”

  “I don’t think so; I believe the people will be well behaved.”

  “Sucker.”

  “Keep it up and I’ll drag your sorry ass with me.”

  “Jay, a word of advice, leave Tony home.”

  “Huh? Give me one reason why I should leave my number two here.”

  “How about in case something happens to you, how about being able to avoid the direct questions about your VP being in the mob.”

  “Some will ask.”

  “Let me see what needs to be signed so I can check on Lacy and get some rest tonight.”

  After signing fifty pages, Jay stands to stretch his muscles,

  “That’s it for tonight. Anything I missed can be reviewed at tomorrow’s staff meeting.”

  “Night Jay.”

  “Night Fred, and do me a favor, try to get some sleep tonight, I need you.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “Take the damn pills.”

  “Look who’s talking.”

  @@@@@

  “Admiral, a message from General Arthur, he’s asking us to time our arrival in Norfolk for two weeks from today, between 1300 and 1500 hours. He wants us to meet a Chinese fleet coming from Europe, which is making a port call for the treaty signing.”r />
  “Send back a confirmation and tell the Task Force we’re going to slow to 5 knots, we have some time to burn. It’ll give the North enough time to attack us, which is key to the plan.”

  “I want to make sure we have at least one Hawkeye or AWACS up all the time. The North has to try to stop us before we reach Norfolk and we rendezvous with the Chinese fleet, they’ll worry our two fleets will pose a real danger to them. Their military will tell the President they have a better chance sinking us before our two fleets merge. The attack will have to come within the next few days.”

  “Yes, sir. We have eyes in the sky 24/7. Sir, do you trust the Chinese?”

  “Are you asking me if I trust them not to attack us? Yes, if you’re asking me if I trust the Chinese long term, my answer is no. If you’re asking why are we signing the treaty with them, it’s because it scares the crap out of the North. The Chinese provide us with the additional strength to stop the North from a military strike on our people.”

  “Sir, isn’t them attacking us, the same thing?”

  “No, we’re at sea, no collateral damage. Our President doesn’t want the people attacked, he really cares about them, which is more than I can say about the President in the White House. He also cares about us. I’m sure you’ve heard about his military spending plans.”

  “Do you believe him? Housing and living payments after we leave the service, based on the number of years we’ve served, it sounds too good to be true.”

  “It’s all true, he showed me the bills and his plans, he refuses to allow any veteran to be homeless or go hungry. He also refuses to send us into harm’s way without the best weapons and protection we can get. He told me he was disgusted with many of the troops having to buy their own equipment because supply ran out.”

  “I’m going to vote for him regardless of what party banner he’s running under.”

  “He really does bleed when any of us are wounded. He cares for us like Bush 2 did. Believe me, he’s on our side. He told me he’ll never send us on any peacekeeping bullshit missions. He also has a unique view of war, it’s very similar to Patton’s. If we have to fight, then we should do everything possible to crush the other side while limiting our losses.”

  “You mean no more BS orders and ROEs from the capital?”

  “Got that right. Have you seen him issuing any orders to us which would compromise us?”

  “Now that you mention it, no, which is a very good thing. I like him even better.”

  “I like him a lot. He’s what we need to become a strong nation.”

  “GENERAL QUARTERS, GENERAL QUARTERS, ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS. THIS IS NOT, REPEAT, NOT A DRILL. PREPARE FOR ANTI AIR ACTION.”

  “Well, I guess the North is coming. Captain, I think you have a ship to fight.”

  “And you sir, a Task Force. Thank you for your time.”

  “Let’s splash some Northern fighters.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  @@@@@

  Newly appointed Secretary of Defense Hill is trying not to fall asleep while the President is lecturing him why the Southern fleet has to be stopped before it can merge with the Chinese fleet.

  “…they will be able to strike the capital and all the way to New York City from Norfolk, if they move further north in international waters, they’ll be able to strike every city between here and Boston, think of the numbers of people involved. We have to stop them before they cause billions in damage.”

  “Mr. President, what makes you think they’ll attack us?”

  “It’s what I’d do. Why wouldn’t they strike us? After they strike us, their ground forces will be able to roll across the border, nothing will be able to stop them. They’ll win the Civil War before we’re able to regroup and counter attack.”

  “Mr. President, President Tolson has publicly stated he has no intention of attacking us, he’s stated he has no desire on any of our territory. If we attack them, we’ll be giving them cause to strike us. May I remind you he has most of our military.”

  “He’s not going to get away with his master plan. I will stop him. He’s undoing all the global good I’ve done. He’s going to allow fracking and overturn all of the EPA’s rules and regulations. He doesn’t believe Global Warming is our biggest threat. Can you imagine the damage to the planet he’s going to cause? He has to be stopped as soon as possible.”

  “Sir, it’s going to be very difficult to fight him. If we don’t count his military, we have to take into account three-quarters of his population is armed, and they probably have enough personal firearms to arm the one-quarter who aren't armed. If he asks for their assistance we’ll be facing a force we couldn’t dream of matching, then there’s his treaty with the Chinese, who are our largest trading partner and we still owe trillions to. Are you ready to give up California?”

  “The Chinese won’t go to war with us over the Confederacy.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I believe they will, it would solve a lot of their problems. It would enable them to grab a lot of our land area in conquest, land they won’t be too willing to give back.”

  “I’m giving you a direct order, sink their damn Task Force before they rendezvous with the Chinese, are you going to accept the order or resign?”

  “I’ll carry out your order.”

  Chapter 15

  Jay presses his speed dial to call Tony,

  “Hey, Tony, can you stop by my office?”

  “Sure, I’ll be right there.”

  Tony slides his phone into the cargo pocket of his black BDU pants wondering what Jay wants, he most likely wants to go over the agenda and potential Q&A for the town hall meetings again. I keep telling him it's normal to be worried, he’s not a politician. He’s not used to standing in front of a group of strangers, many who may not fully agree with him. I know that once the first meeting is under his belt, he will pontificate his self-assured platform and enthrall the rest of his admirers with his vision for the Confederacy’s success. I think he’s pushing it with too many meetings though, a handful would have been enough. But no, Jay wants to personally meet as many constituents as possible, he thinks it’s his duty to explain what he’s planning to every single person in the Confederacy. I’ll go sooth the beast.

  Tony nods to the guards outside the castle and the two standing watch outside Jay’s office.

  “Hi guys, I assume he’s in?”

  “Yes, he’s expecting you, go right in.”

  “Hi Jay, what’s up?”

  “Tony, thanks for coming without any notice. Want something to drink? Need something to eat?”

  “Okay, what’s up? What’s wrong? You’ve never greeted me so happy. What did I miss?”

  “Have a seat, I’ll come around and sit next to you.”

  “Shit, what did I do?”

  “Nothing. I just want to chat with you about the town hall meetings.”

  “I knew it, I knew it. Want me to get the agenda or potential questions?”

  “No, I want to chat about your role at the meetings.”

  “Go, I’m all ears.”

  “Tony, you know you’re like a brother to me and ….”

  “Stop the BS, whatever you’re building up to tell me, just say it.”

  “Okay, Tony, I don’t think you should be coming to this set of town hall meetings.”

  “Why the hell not? I’m still the VP, or have I been replaced in the last twenty-four hours?”

  “Of course not! You're the VP, that’s not in question.”

  “Then what’s wrong? Why do you want me to say behind?”

  “My brother and you are my brother, I think we need to discuss what the people will see when you join me on the stage.”

  Shit, he doesn’t want me to go, why is he trying to edge me out?

  “You can’t run or hide from your past, we have a huge task rebuilding and remaking our country. The risk to the country is too high.”

  “Are you asking me to resign? Do you want to repla
ce me on the ticket? What’s wrong? What’s come over you?”