New Earth: The Search for Justice. R.D. Ph.D. Pittman
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“Alex, General Amos from Nellis AFB is on line two,” Sandi said.
“Paul, how are you?”
“General, unfortunately we are counting the dead. There was a fierce firefight that broke out between the Marines surrounding our headquarters building and the group you sent to liberate us. We thought this was going to go peacefully, but one of the Marines got jumpy and fired on your guys, and they opened up with a hellacious burst of fire. They cut those Marines to pieces. Now everyone is walking around in shell shock looking at the carnage. Goddamn Torrance, Goddamn him all to hell, these were young kids with a future, to die this way is more than a shame. I just——
“Paul, I know, I am so sorry, and you’re right—Goddamn Torrance and whoever is backing him.”
“I’m sorry General, our facility is now secure what are your orders?”
“You are to assume command of your airbase and secure those nuclear weapons, put your fighter wings on standby alert, half of the assault troops are to be stationed at your facility along with their helicopter force. The remaining troops are to be sent back to Ft. Lewis utilizing the C-17 transports the Marines came in on. I was going to have you keep the Marines there for perimeter security, but given what has happened, that is not such a good idea. Send them back with the rest of the troops, but talk to them first and make sure they understand what has happened. This is not their fault. Any questions?”
“How could I Alex, you think of everything. Oh I almost forgot, what about responding to civilian inquiries as to what the hell is going on?”
“You have no comment at this time, until I can assure myself that all my facilities are on line. I don’t want to put out something I may have to end up retracting. I’ll contact all of you by conference call within the next twenty-four hours to address that very issue.”
“Very well Alex, and we lost eight Marines, three wounded, four of your assault troops and six wounded. I guess it could have been worse, again, thanks for all your help and good planning.”
Alex sat alone in his command office, staring blankly at a picture of him next to his A-10 Thunderbolt, wondering how it was in the scheme of things that the world sidestepped a disaster, only to have his country shed its own blood in a needless clash of ideals. Where was the equity in all this, the fairness, it all seemed so unbalanced to him. Young men with futures, alive and eager to experience life, so unnecessary, so tragic…such an absolute waste—goddamn Torrance.
Whiteman AFB had a small skirmish, until the Apache gunships showed up and the Marines stood down, no casualties were reported. Over the next four hours each of the remaining facilities that had been seized by Torrance’s Marine units were liberated and reported to him. Alex was beginning to formulate his strategy for consolidating his forces and placing them in key locations throughout the west coast, southwest, and the Midwest. It would take only another week for the rest of the facilities in the eastern US to renounce Torrance and look to Alex for guidance.
Contact with NORAD and the SAC Headquarters confirmed that all was normal and security had been beefed up at all affected satellite sites of those commands. Communications with all facilities was normal and did not suffer any down time. The extra precautions Curt had taken to provide redundant system routing in case of satellite interruption worked perfectly.
Commanders were in place, troops had their missions outlined for them, depots were secured and Alex was still nervous. The west coast had a substantial naval presence and two Marine Divisions; he needed to address that issue quickly. He decided to call in his Navy Seal teams that were transferred to him before the takeover. He convened a meeting at the staff headquarters building on the airbase.
“I’m faced with a dilemma; there is a huge Naval and Marine presence on our West coast. I have to find a way to bring them into the fold. Any ideas?”
Lt. Commander Morris, the Navy Seal team leader offered a suggestion.
“Sir, why don’t you try and reach the Admiral at the San Diego headquarters of the Pacific Fleet?”
“Any of you familiar with this man, I’ve never met him to date?” Alex said.
“I just know of him, never met the man,” Morris replied.
“Let me make a quick land sat call here, I’ve got the Seabee Admiral on my speed dial.”
“Admiral, Alex Hanken.”
“General Hanken, I can’t tell you how good it is to hear your voice. I still can’t believe what has happened.”
“Admiral, I have come down on the opposite side of Admiral Torrance. I intend to oppose him and restore the government.” Before Alex could comment further the Admiral interrupted.
“General, I am in your corner and a lot of other top brass as well, how can we help you?”
“Thank you for your loyalty Joe, what can you tell me about the Admiral that runs the show in San Diego?”
“Felix Hanover? We were at the Naval Academy together. I married his cousin. What did you have in mind General?”
“Joe, I need to consolidate the west coast of America and get it under my control. I can’t have Admiral Torrance’s units sitting right under my nose up and down the coast.”
“I talked to Felix just twenty minutes ago and he is fit to be tied over this and doesn’t know what to do. It just so happens I mentioned your name and we both wondered which side you would come down on. Well, now we know, let’s call him right now.”
“Go ahead,” Alex said. The Seal team leaders and Marines in the room with Alex were intently listening to the entire conversation.
“Felix, its Joe, and I’ve got General Alex Hanken on the other line.”
“Joe, please tell me this is going to be a good call,” Hanover replied.
“The General is aligning himself against Torrance and looking to consolidate the west coast military facilities under his command,” Admiral Byers advised.
“Well, General Hanken, rumors had it that you had balls bigger than an elephant, and a brain to match. You have my support, and I can assure you that all of the rest of our west coast naval installations will fall in line behind me. I spoke with nearly all of them this morning. Your orders sir?”
“Admiral Hanover, thank you for your loyalty. My first order to you is to consolidate your officers under your command. I am putting you in charge of all naval operations in the Pacific. Conduct yourself accordingly.”
“General, I have two aircraft carriers out here in dock. Halsey is supposed to be in charge of naval aviation. He just got here about fifteen minutes ago and he’s sitting across from me.”
“Felix, are we on a speaker phone?”
“Yes.”
“Admiral Halsey, you will continue to command all naval air operations, but you will report to Admiral Hanover.”
“General, thank God somebody is taking charge. I will support you all the way to Washington DC,” Halsey stated.
“Felix, there are two Marine divisions sitting out there under your nose, how about those commanders?”
“Alex both division commanders are on their way here right now to ask for orders, they report to me, we have them in the fold.”
“Gentlemen, on this date we begin the task of taking back our country, or let us all die trying, good day.” Alex concluded the call to the cheers of everyone in the debriefing room.
Alex decided he would visit Elena and Andrade at the stockade, since it was on his way to the residence. FBI Agent Tina Somers, assigned as his personal bodyguard, approached and said.
“General, are you going to see the Russian spies?”
“Yes, in fact I am.”
“General,