Guard, were formulated to neutralize their effectiveness. Actually, sir, my appointment as commander of the 324th is part of that plan. Changing leadership of the units-from reserve to regular Army commanders-down to the company level has been designed to effectively place control of these units under regular Army direction.”
Again, Dewhirst looked toward Del Valle. “Bob? Were you aware of this?”
“Not until this morning, Governor. I knew, of course, that the assignment was occurring and was unusual, but not unprecedented. But I was not aware of a strategy that established a policy toward that end.”
“How widespread is this, Bob?”
“Other changes are occurring now, Governor. Routine paperwork for these changes has, shall we say, inadvertently missed my desk. Essentially, I’ve been cut out of the loop, it would seem, for about the past six months.”
The governor stood and came around his desk, moving to the sideboard and filling his coffee cup. “What do we do about it?” he asked, returning to his seat.
“That’s what we’re here for, Governor,” Del Valle replied. “Plus one more bit of information. Please continue, Colonel.”
“Sir,” Harman spoke softly, “my counterpart advised that his armored battalion, plus the air mobile cavalry unit, had been placed on a twelve-hour alert. They were to prepare for immediate deployment. .” he hesitated briefly before adding “. . internally.”
“
“Specifically. .” Harman again looked toward Del Valle, who remained stone-faced and impassive. “. . specifically, sir, they have been alerted to stand by on twelve-hours’ notice to deploy to Sacramento, and to effect a supportive posture for U.S. marshals who have been or will be assigned to suspend the California legislature. In brief, sir, should the California government announce the formation of an independent constitutional committee as planned, the Army has been directed to implement martial law and to shut down the state government.”
Walter Dewhirst rose and stood behind his chair, his eyes growing larger with the revelations being delivered by Colonel Harman. “
Robert Del Valle moved to the front of the governor’s desk and spoke in a soft tone. “Governor Dewhirst, the California National Guard stands ready to follow your orders. I can’t tell how many will defect or how any of us, for that matter, will respond to such an appalling condition. But I have already prepared the plans for just such an eventuality.”
Walter Dewhirst looked in astonishment at General Del Valle. “You’ve
“Walt,” Del Valle continued, his voice still soft and under control, a ploy that had often confused his opponents in negotiation, coming as it did devoid of any anger from his six-foot, five-inch frame, “Colonel Harman, Colonel Tompkins, my executive officer, and I have developed some ‘what if’ scenarios. It’s only prudent to be prepared. The Army’s options were limited. It wasn’t difficult to project their moves if it came to this. In an insurrection, you move to shut down the government and communications. Local and county governments pose no real problem for Washington, but the federal government has no choice but to exert a semblance of control over what is seen as the rebellious behavior of the California Legislature. They’re coming, and we’ve got to get ready. Unless I’m wrong, you and the Speaker of the House plan to announce the constitutional committee a week from Monday. Am I right?”
Dewhirst nodded.
“Right. Then we’ve got to move to effectively block the redeployment of units from Fort Irwin-not a military confrontation, but a political confrontation, with uniforms all around. We need to be prepared to occupy the capitol building and the perimeter around the square with only a couple of hours’ notice. We need to be here waiting for them when they arrive, or they’ll gain the upper hand. And, Walt,” he cautioned, “we need to do it without firing a shot. It’s a display of resistance to control from Washington.”
“But we don’t want this foolish secession to happen, General!” the governor shouted, spinning his chair out of the way and pounding his fist on the desk.
“I know, Governor,” Del Valle continued, maintaining control over his voice. “We don’t, either.”
Dewhirst took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for that outburst. It was uncalled for and certainly not directed at you or Colonel Harman personally. Pull together your contingency plans and be back here at, say. .” He glanced at his watch. “Seven tonight. Call your wives, gentlemen. I think it will be a long session. I’ll notify the legislative leadership, and we’ll all meet this evening.”
Del Valle and Harman moved toward the door, the governor following immediately behind.
Dewhirst reached to shake Harman’s hand. “Colonel,” the governor said, “this took courage on your part. Whose side are you on in this mess?”
Colonel Jack Harman didn’t answer for a moment, taken aback by the governor’s direct question. “Governor, I’ve honored my responsibility to my present commander, General Del Valle. But,” he said, looking at his watch, “I’ve got three hours and forty-five minutes to decide the future of my Army career.”
Governor Dewhirst looked into Harman’s eyes, and both men were silent for what seemed like minutes. “Perhaps, Colonel. .” the governor said, pausing briefly, “. . perhaps we’re in the same boat. I’ve got exactly the same amount of time to decide the fate of California, and in some respects, the fate of America as it is presently constituted.”
The two young men fidgeted impatiently as they stood on the street corner in the San Francisco Embarcadero. The pile of cigarette stubs in the gutter attested to the length of their wait and to their nervousness. They were careful to slip into the shadows whenever a police patrol car made its rounds. They knew their shaved heads, leather jackets, and Doc Marten boots would instantly subject them to interrogation and harassment. Skinheads were usually fair game for cops-however, not tonight, if they could help it. There was money to be made-that is, if the dude with the tattoos hadn’t been jerking them around when he recruited them.
A dark green van pulled around the corner, moving slowly down the street until the driver spotted the two skinheads and brief recognition was given. The van door slid open, the two men climbed in, and the van quickly moved away, turning toward the Bay Bridge and heading east toward Oakland.
“We thought you wasn’t comin’, man.”
“Got delayed. You ready?”
The two smiled at each other, nervousness now abating as they began the process of psyching themselves up for the evening’s work.
“We’re always ready to pop spooks, man. You got the tools, dude?”
The tattooed driver looked over at his passenger and gave a slight nod. Shaw had instructed Krueger that he was to continue acting as the one in charge, allowing Shaw to take a secondary role. Shaw climbed into the rear of the van and unwrapped two automatic weapons, handing them over the seat to the young skinheads, who examined them with the joy of receiving Christmas presents.
“Fine stuff, man. We can do some damage with these, all right.”
“You got the job down?” the passenger said.
“The man’s been feedin’ it to us for three days,” one skinhead said, inclining his head toward the driver. “What d’ya think, we’re dumb? We know what to do. And we know just where to do it, too, don’t we, Slick?” he said to his companion.
The van exited the Bay Bridge, then took I-80 toward Oakland, pulling off at the first exit and entering a parking lot. “Okay,” Shaw said. “You know where to meet us. Twenty minutes, that’s all. Drive by, rake the building, and if you get a couple-all the better.”
“We got it knocked, man.”
The passenger and the tattooed driver got out of the van and stood next to a parked car, watching as the van drove off.
“Move out, First Sergeant.”
“Right, Commander,” the tattooed man said.
They climbed in the parked car, and as Otto drove through the Oakland neighborhoods, Jackson Shaw leaned back in his seat, gazing out the window at the run-down housing and the abandoned, junked cars strewn along the
