The announcer’s stentorious voice continued, “British Canada declared it will back the Russian government and has placed its military on red alert. Great Britain dispatched air and naval elements to North America within an hour of the Canadian announcement. Military forces in the United States have gone to red alert as a precaution.”
“My God,” Claude whispered. “This is going to escalate into a continentwide war.”
“This just in.” The man’s voice became even more somber. “The Confederate States has withdrawn its ambassadors from the U.S. and California, and has announced it will treat any foreign military craft violating its air space as hostile. The U.S. announced the departure of the 77th Airborne Division to aid the beleaguered Dena Republic.”
“But what are the Russians doing?” Grisha screamed at the speaker. He turned to Claude. “You’ve got to get me back right now!”
“I don’t know if I can, but I’ll try.” Claude picked up the phone, held it to his ear for a long moment, and then set it down. “It’s dead,” he said listlessly, “and I’ll bet the doors are locked from the outside.”
Andreivich walked over and tugged on the knob, shrugged. Grisha felt despair wash over him. Claude glanced at both of them and then turned back to the radio.
“We’ve been in worse prisons,” Andreivich said with a shrug, “and we have no Cossacks to deal with.”
Despite himself, Grisha gave the old man a smile. “When we were at the prison camp, I thought you were stiff and sullen. Yet you can find something in this situation to feel good about. I wish I could.”
“We still live,” Andreivich said crisply.
Grisha nodded and turned to Claude, who sat transfixed by the radio.
“Claude, you’ve been talking to all these people. Why did we go with the Californians if the United States is that interested in us? Haimish even gave his life in an attempt to help.”
The ambassador didn’t take his eyes off the speaker. “Haimish was trying to tie us to the U.S. and the Californians beat him to the punch. They brought instant communications and a lot of weapons. Haimish only brought a few weapons and a lot of philosophy. We already had philosophy.”
“But now the Yankees are sending paratroopers,” Grisha said softly,
“and what are the Californians doing?”
“I wish I knew, Grisha. I wish I knew.”
66
“I don’t care if we’re with them or against them!” Colonel Bernard Jackson said to the officers around the mahogany table. “But we pulled Colonel Grigorievich out of his command and we have to get him back, now!”
“May I remind the colonel,” a frosty-faced admiral said, “that he is the junior officer in the room and here only at our invitation and sufferance.”
Benny forced himself to remain quiet. Telling this old windbag where to put it would only exacerbate the situation.
“Be careful, Admiral Clyde,” a three-star R.O.C. Air Force general said, “…or he might throw you outside in the dead of winter.”
Benny felt his face grow warm as the all the men and one woman present laughed. He realized there was nothing further to be gained here and stiffened to attention.
“Colonel Jackson requests permission to leave, sir.”
General of the Army Davidson waved him toward a chair. “Take a seat, Benny, we’re just getting started. In my opinion it took a lot of balls to do what you did, then admit it in front of a tribunal, and still walk away with your head and rank intact.”
“Thank you, General. But Colonel Grigorievich was correct, I should have just shot the bitch rather than sink to her level. Not to mention that Grisha also wouldn’t be our de facto prisoner when he is urgently needed at home.”
“He’s not a prisoner,” Admiral Ramona Clyde snapped. “He is a guest of the Republic of California. We’re going to give him military aid, for crissake.”
Benny perked up. This was new.
“Indeed, Admiral, when?”
“That’s why you’re here, Colonel Jackson,” General Davidson said. “You know the situation up there, what should we send?”
“Fighter wings, airborne troops, artillery, and armor, all with lots of ammunition, that should do it, General.”
“You are aware that New Spain is moving troops and warships up from the south and British Canada is doing the same from the north, yes?” Admiral Clyde’s voice could quick-freeze a tree, Benny thought. “Not to mention that when we dispatch military personnel to Russian America we will be at war with them, too.”
“Russia has a small but modern navy with which to threaten our shores. So what would you have us do, what should we keep here at home for defense?”
“The fleet and the fleet air wings, Admiral. You could deploy the marines against the enemy land forces. I have heard many times from their very lips that one marine is worth five soldiers.” He shrugged and kept his smile hidden. “I should think that would do it nicely.”
Color rose in the admiral’s cheeks. Marine General Louis Cole broke his silence with a near growl. “Is that a challenge, Colonel? Or are you making a joke?”
“Only repeating what I’ve heard, General.”
“Okay, enough of this screwing around,” General Burgett, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. “We’re sending the Third Airborne and the 117th Fighter Squadron. Do you want to head up a Special Forces unit and go with?”
“Thank you, General.” Benny’s heart seemed about to burst through his dress jacket. “I’d love to do just that!”
“Then get your ass out of here and have at, you’ve got eighteen hours.”
67
Major Riordan of the International Freekorps spotted movement ahead and slapped the driver’s arm. The scout car stopped and Riordan peered through his binoculars.
“It’s our motorcycle scout coming like there’s something chewing his ass. Alert the column.”
The driver reached out and hand-cranked a siren for five seconds. Behind the scout car, the men in the two armored personnel carriers and the five trucks didn’t change in their aspect, but most of them woke up.
The camouflaged motorcycle purred up to the car and the rider stopped and saluted.
“Major, there’s a Russian unit bivouacked about a mile up the road.”
“'How big a unit?”
“Three medium tanks, three APCs, five trucks, and a scout car.”
“Could you tell if they were special forces or regular army?”
“Looked like regular army to me, but I don’t know for sure.”
“What the hell are they doing out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“I didn’t ask, Major,” the man said with a laugh. “And they didn’t say.”
“They see you?”
“No. I smelled the smoke from their fires and hid the bike before reconnoitering on foot. They must not be expecting trouble, their sentries were playing cards.”
“Good work, Sergeant Percy. Let your radio antenna free and put a white flag on it. But first take a break, I
