[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Thus could the DHS bring the same to thePresident."There's no doubt, Madam President.None at all.Texas is mobilizing her ownmilitary forces.Even expanding them, it seems."Rottemeyer looked toward McCreavy."What does that mean to us, Caroline?"McCreavy consulted her notes before replying."They have one more or lessold-fashioned armored division.Five tank battalions.Four infantry.Fourartillery.Three Engineer.The usual support."Page 55ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlRottemeyer caught on the phrase, "Old-fashioned? That's good for us isn't it?"Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlShaking her head ruefully, McCreavy answered, "In this case, no, Willi, itisn't.""I do not understand."McCreavy sighed, then went on."Well.let me put it this way.In ourentire regular force here in theStates, excluding the Marines, we have not a single tank.Nor do we have asingle vehicle capable of taking on a tank in a heads-up fight.Not one.Thosefive tank battalions have more combat power than any one of our divisions.Andthey could chew even the Marines, who do have tanks, if not that many of them,to bits.""What about our other states' National Guards?""Willi.do you trust them? I mean, do you really? You call up theGuard which does have some other heavy forces and you might find you're justreinforcing Texas."Again McCreavy let out a deep sigh."Willi.I am sorry but some of thosestates, especially those around Texas, hate you and everything you stand for.If you push, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.maybe the wholedeep south and quite a bit of the Midwest might 'just say no'."Remember that red and blue map from the elections in 2000? Well, imagine thered portion in outright rebellion.It could be that bad.If you push them intoit we could face a real war, and we could lose it.Ican't answer for that.I won't."What I have done, with the Third Corps based at Fort Hood in Texas, is to putthem on alert.I have also told them to prepare to withdraw, in case you agreewith me that they ought to be withdrawn.""Withdrawn? Why?""Willi, I have spoken with Bennigsen, the commander of Third Corps.He saysthe propaganda coming out of Texas' governor's office is beginning to have aneffect on his entire command.He says his men are'pissed' at what happened at the mission."* * *Fort Hood, TexasColonel (P) (for the army designated colonels who were selected to becomebrigadier generals as such;"P" for "promotable") Joseph E.Hanstadt took one final look at his computermonitor, sighed, punched his intercom, and called for his secretary."Emily, set me up an appointment with the boss for sometime today, would you?"Without waiting for an answer, Hanstadt clicked off the intercom then turnedback to his computer monitor.He stared blankly at the screen for severalminutes, looking at but no longer quite seeing scenes of atrocity.Forcing his eyes away, arising from his desk, Hanstadt clutched his beret inone hand.A grimace of distaste at what he called "this headgear with too manymoving parts" briefly clouded his features.Walking around the oversized desk there were a few benefits to being the ThirdCorps G-4, or quartermaster Hanstadt took several steps to reach his officedoor.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlHe looked directly at his secretary, whose finger even now pressed the redialbutton on her own phone, and said, "Emily, if the boss will see me thisafternoon that will be fine.If he needs me sooner, or will see me sooner, oryou need me, I'll be at the chapel.And I'll leave my cell phone on." Again,Hanstadt grimaced with distaste, this time at the phone attached to his beltunder his mottled uniform jacket.Page 56ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlI hate those fucking things, he thought.Hanstadt made a gimme motion at his driver, who obediently reached into hispocket and turned over the keys to the G-4 vehicle.Then, wordlessly, thecolonel left the headquarters by the staff door.The drive to the post chapel was short.Formations of troops passed here andthere, marching to their duties.Preoccupied, Hanstadt barely acknowledgedtheir presence.At the post chapel he parked his Army issue car, a not-too-ancient GM sedan.He could have had a new one being G-4 had other perks too but had settled forsomething a bit more worn in the interests of economy.Others sometimeslaughed.That was Hanstadt; skinflint cheap wherever he could save theArmy and country he loved a few dollars.There was neither priest nor minister nor rabbi nor imam at the chapel.Hanstadt entered to a lonely space packed with benches.If not so dreary beingmulti-denominational as a Catholic church might have been, neither was it sobright and airy as a typical Protestant one.But it was multidenominational.Therefore Hanstadt found padded kneerests just as if it were Catholic or Anglican before the altar [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]