A pleasing contralto voice said, “I hear you fine, Mr. Jackson.” She hesitated for a moment. “My heart goes out to you in your time of sorrow. Alf Rosario will be missed by us all.”
Until now Grisha hadn’t believed that Benny Jackson could ever be at a loss for words. The man straightened his posture, stared at the microphone, and licked his lips.
“Ah, thank you, Ms. Campbell. I genuinely appreciate that. I didn’t know you were aware of his death.” He nodded and stepped back, motioning Nathan to move closer.
“I am Sarah Campbell, Undersecretary of State for the Republic of California,” she said crisply. “Whom am I addressing, please?”
“I am Nathan Roubitaux, President of the Dena Republik. I am honored to meet you, Madame Undersecretary.”
“You’ll forgive me if I skip the usual diplomatic puffery,” she said.
“Time is of the essence for you and I’ll get directly to the point.”
“I do appreciate that. Please continue.”
“My government has authorized me to grant the Dena Republik full diplomatic recognition in return for most favored nation status and an exclusive extractive minerals treaty.”
“Exclusive extractive minerals treaty?” Nathan echoed. “We’re new to this sort of thing. Please explain.”
“It’s quite simple really. The Dena Republik would allow the Republic of California, but no other foreign nationals, access to your mineral or petroleum deposits.”
“What if we didn’t wish to allow anybody access to our deposits?”
“That is your prerogative. Our stipulation is that if and when you decide to seek expertise and, or, financial aid to utilize the minerals in your country, you come to us.” She sounded cheery, with a smile in her voice.
“Our cooperation would be very competitive, compared to the other nations of North America, I assure you.”
“I will have to speak with the council about this. We already agreed on most favored nation status, but a minerals treaty has not been discussed at all.”
Grisha wondered how someone as young-sounding as Ms. Campbell had risen to such high position in the California Republic.
“We have notified St. Petersburg that we are extending recognition to your government. I’m told we follow the First People’s Nation and the United States in that regard, and in that order. The Russians continue to rattle their sabers.
“They contend this is an internal matter and we are violating their sovereignty. Our Defense High Command recommends that we station a squadron of Eureka fighters in your country as well as two mobile radar battalions and three antiaircraft companies.”
“Where do you propose siting these elements?” Nathan asked in a soft voice.
“Strategically. On your borders with Russian Amerika. This is something your ambassador’s military advisor and our High Command could discuss upon your party’s arrival.”
“We would be grateful if your air force could provide transportation for our ambassador and his staff. At the present time we have no transport aircraft capable of making the trip.”
“It will be our pleasure, Mr. President. How many people will be in the ambassador’s party?”
“Four. How soon could the transport arrive?”
“Tomorrow. Is Tanana aerodrome operational?”
“Yes. We’ll send answers to your questions with Ambassador Adams and his party.”
“Very well. We look forward to his arrival. Good day, Mr. President.”
“Good day, Madame Undersecretary.”
The speaker issued static and Scanlon switched off the machine. The room suddenly seemed smaller.
Nathan walked over to the table where the council members sat.
“We need to talk in private.”
53
“Claude and his party will go south to negotiate military aid,” Nathan said. “In the meantime we have to push the Czar’s army out of as much of the Dena Republik as possible. If a truce is finally declared the battle lines will probably turn into borders.”
“Any idea how many are moving toward us from St. Nicholas, or how many are already at St. Anthony?” Grisha asked.
Nathan hesitated, his eyes calculating. “Over two thousand troops are moving north from St. Nicholas, and they have armor. We estimate by the time they merge with the troops at St. Anthony they will be able to field over six thousand. We don’t know how many they have at Tetlin or how many are being shipped from Russia.”
Grisha felt light-headed. It sounded like he wouldn’t be a colonel for long. “Claude better talk fast down there, I don’t know how much time I can buy against those odds. Who do I have to help me with all this?”
“I’d like to be on your staff,” Wing said.
“Captain Smolst and Heron have asked to serve with you, also,” Nathan said.
Grisha glanced over at Wing. “As a subordinate?”
“We told you; you’re in command.” Her level gaze held more messages than he could decipher. “As a subordinate and where needed. I want to do what I can.”
“Okay, you’re now a lieutenant colonel and my chief of staff. Inform Captain Smolst that he is a major and responsible for the defense of Chena as head of Bear Team. Heron will lead our offensive elements, Wolf Team, also south from Chena and also as a major.
“We need to assemble our people, get them provisioned, and start for Chena as soon as possible. Do what you have to, but do it now.”
“Yes, sir,” she said quietly and quickly left the room.
“Who is the general I report to?” Grisha asked.
“Slayer-of-Men was our only general,” Nathan said, “now it’s just the council.”
“I’m running my own war?”
“You have complete charge of the Southern Defensive Force. Paul Eluska is commanding the Northern Defensive Force.”
Grisha pictured Paul as he first saw him in the rescue party on the Tanana River; compact, intelligent, and quiet but deadly alert. “Me and Paul are running the army,” he said with a chuckle. “Things must be pretty bad.”
“We have the utmost faith in both of you,” Anna said, her handsome face earnest. “You’re leading our sons and daughters.”
The only Russians still at Chena Redoubt lay buried in the rubble. Those still breathing had pulled back to St. Anthony. When the Dena column moved into town, the people of Chena fled into the forest. No amount of shouting and assertions made the slightest difference; they would not return. The walls of the redoubt still stood where they met the highway.
Inside the gate was another matter. The huge administration and prison complex had become a mound of debris camouflaged by ice and snow. Wing and Grisha stared at it quietly, knowing the bodies of their friends and comrades still lay entombed inside.
“Colonel,” Major Sherry said. “There’s an equipment building that’s mostly undamaged. Shall we put the command post in there?”
“Do we have all of our troops quartered, Heron?”
“Yes, Gri—uh, Colonel. They’re all over town.”
“Okay. Go ahead and make it the command post, and set the rest up as a hospital.”
“Very good, sir.” Heron turned and spoke to a corporal who instantly disappeared into the organized confusion.
“Wing, Heron, Heinrich, let’s go look at the road.” Grisha motioned and two of the four guards in their party hurried off to find transport.
