Objective- Freedom

by James Huber

  “If anyone saw this, he’d think we’re running a third-world coup. Keep that in mind, Colonel. The press is after us, and we need to keep a low profile. Now let me see that message while you sit down and relax.”

  Tony sat, but he couldn’t relax.

  Green read the message and immediately called for AG Tremont and Secretary of State Kirby to come to the White House immediately.

  He hung up the phone and said, “Listen to this, Tony.” He read from the message.

  “Mr. Vice President and Chief of Staff, please inform the president that a signal has been received from the telephone monitoring we’re conducting on the various states. Colonel Richard

  Sterling, commander of the Idaho State Patrol, requested a meeting with Ambassador Elliott Randall as soon as possible. After analysis of their cryptic conversation, we believe he’ll have Idaho’s Governor Norton with him.

  “The purpose of the meeting seems to be to bring Idaho into the new Southwest Coalition of States. The strategic and economic aspects of this action are incalculable at this time. We will analyze events as they occur.”

  “What does this mean to us, General?” Tony asked.

  “I’m not sure yet. I feel we need to stop this any way we can. One more state doesn’t seem like much to lose until you look at a map. We’d be effectively cut off from the west coast. Come with me to the map table.”

  Green walked to the table and pointed out how the three states along the Pacific Ocean would be isolated from the rest of the US if Idaho joined the Coalition.

  “It would cut off the interstate highways, which would create havoc for all the ports on the Pacific. Any products from Asia come through those ports and then are shipped across the country. With the interstates cut, those trucks and trains wouldn’t be able to move.”

  “That leaves us with the Panama Canal or going south around the tip of South America. That would add weeks to the journey and millions of dollars to the cost of freight. That would probably wreck our fragile economy. If a system of road taxes could be worked out, our economy would be saved, and the Coalition would have a guaranteed source of income.”

  The two men discussed the situation, then Green sent Hamilton to bring in the secretary of state and the attorney general. He didn’t want to use the phone for fear of someone from the Coalition states overhearing the conversation.

  Secretary of State Kirby was the first to arrive and managed to get into the White House without being noticed by the press, who backed off considerably since the president fell ill. They also knew they couldn’t get past Green.

  Attorney General Tremont from the Treasury Department was hardly noticed. The four met in Green’s chief-of-staff office, since it was the largest and had the most privacy. Colonel Hamilton posted Marine guards at both ends of the hall, sealing it off. Some of the young staffers who managed to retain their jobs made rude comments about the Gestapo, but they were ignored.

  Green told Tremont and Kirby what he knew and what the NSA assumed.

  “How certain are we of this information?” Kirby asked.

  Green called General Burton and asked. “It’s eighty-five percent certain Idaho intends to break away.”

  “Can you, Kirby, go to Idaho and meet with Governor Frank Kellogg to see what’s happening?” Tremont suggested.

  “I don’t recommend that,” Green said. “It would show we’ve been spying on our own people.”

  “That’s the fortunes of war,” Kirby said. “It’s no secret we’re doing it, and it’s for the purpose of preserving the Union.”

  NSA Director Burton, on the conference phone, suggested they activate the National Guard and secure the Idaho/Utah border. The secretary of defense counseled against it unless they had a clear reason. They couldn’t move the guard into place based on rumor.

  The others agreed. Attorney General Tremont said, “Since I’m not in the line of command for these situations, I might be able to talk to Governor Kellogg. Perhaps I can make him see reason.”

  The others nodded. Tremont left immediately and told her guard and pilot they were flying to Boise, Idaho, as soon as she arrived at the helipad to take them to Andrews AFB.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Adjutant General Polk and Ambassador Randall, with their aides, left early the following morning for Braxton AFB, Utah, just outside Ogden. From there, they would drive to Logan, Utah, and the campus of Utah State. They would be secured by members of Governor Norton’s Highway Patrol and SWAT team. Some team members would drive up Interstate 15 to meet Colonel Sterling at the Idaho border. Sterling, as the commander of the Idaho Highway Patrol, had his own security with him.

  When the two men from Texas arrived, they were met by a squad of eight security guards, who accompanied them to the cars and left the base driving northeast.

  Attorney General Lillian Tremont landed at Boise Gowen Field Air National Guard Base. The duty officer at the Air National Guard Terminal greeted her appointments secretary, who asked for support and an escort to the governor’s office. The young duty captain tried to contact his superiors at the Air National Guard Headquarters.

  He was told to contact the US Secret Service office northeast of town, but he couldn’t find anyone who could verify the attorney general’s arrival. Someone suggested he go to the airport and verify Tremont’s presence himself. Feeling frustrated, he did.

  A member of the Secret Service called Washington to verify that the attorney general flew to Idaho and why she was there.

  Nothing about the trip had been cleared with the Secret Service. When the Secret Service duty officer finally connected with someone in the Justice Department, he was told to send a guard detachment to protect the attorney general and escort her to the governor’s office.

  The Secret Service officer contacted base operations at Gowen Field to secure the attorney general’s plane from the outside and await further orders.

  The colonel commanding the ANG portion of the base, on his way to the flight line, wanted to fire someone. He couldn’t have dignitaries visiting from Washington without being notified by the duty officer.

  Vice President Green was kept abreast of the situation via the NSA’s communications office. The treasury secretary called and said he received a complaint from the Boise office that the attorney general arrived without notice. He wanted to know what was going on.

  “I know the president’s seriously ill,” the secretary said. “Are you also having problems, Mr. Vice President? Whose harebrained scheme was it to send her out there without advance notification?

  “That was ill-advised. Idaho might face hostile forces from Utah, and you sent the attorney general out there on a no-notice flight? Come now, General. You of all people should know better.”

  Green sat there and took it, caught up in the moment for the first time in years. It was public knowledge that he made a grievous error in judgment. The treasury secretary wasn’t someone who would broadcast the incident, but staff members in his department were certain to gossip. Soon there would be a story from an “inside unidentified source” printed by a liberal press hack.

  It was time for damage control.

  “Have your Secret Service agents take over security for the attorney general and escort her to the governor’s office,” Green said.

  “I already called someone in Boise and gave those instructions. Mr. President, I know you’re fairly new to this, but you need an in-depth briefing about who does what in DC, so you can avoid such incidents in the future. If you have nothing else for me, I’m rather busy. I’ll call back when events settle down.”

  Vice President Green stared at the silent handset. “People sure like hanging up on me.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Attorney General Tremont was getting tired of being cooped up in the T-39 executive jet. The security policeman outside made it very clear she had to stay onboard until he was told otherwise.

  Just as he tried to calm her down for the third time, a contingent of black
sedans drove onto the runway. Several men and women jumped out and ran into places around the plane. They were accompanied by the base commander, who told the security policeman to transfer guard duty to the Secret Service, which he did gladly.

  On the way back to his truck, the guard muttered, “Not very secret, charging onto the runway like a bunch of street racers.”

  The base commander went onboard the plane to greet the annoyed attorney general.

  “I don’t have time for chitchat,” she said. “I need to reach the governor’s office and speak to him immediately.”

  The base commander called the governor’s office and was told he wasn’t in residence. His whereabouts were unknown.

  Attorney General Tremont immediately notified Washington. Vice President Green had just about enough of communications problems. “Find him and talk to him. Do whatever it takes. Consider yourself operating under a Presidential Warrant. I’ll fax it to you right now.”

  When the warrant came through, the Secret Service called the highway patrol headquarters and told them to locate the governor.

  “He left instructions not to be bothered, Sir,” the highway patrol officer replied.

  “We’re calling on a matter of national security.”

  “I’ll have to clear it with the commanding officer first.” “Then do it!” the Secret Service agent shouted.

  The officer, who wasn’t employed by the federal government, wasn’t impressed. He waited until the Secret Service agent stopped issuing orders and said, “Do you feel better after getting that off your chest?”

  The Secret Service agent exploded in anger and frustration. The patrolman, not willing to accept any more abuse, hung up.

  The conversations were monitored by Holloman Air Force Base and the NSA. When the report from Holloman reached Governor Norton of Utah, he decided to send a guard unit from Braxton with helicopters to keep Governor Kellogg and Colonel Sterling from being intercepted and possibly detained.

  He knew the governor and the colonel were close to the Utah border by then. Colonel Sterling took a precaution even though it took more time to use Interstate 15 than to drive straight south.

  Governor Norton told his highway patrol to make sure they had a safe passage. He heard helicopters flying northeast and was pleased by the quick reaction. He had the foresight to call the commander of the wing at Braxton and tell him no one was to fire any shots unless absolutely necessary. If the helicopters were fired on, they were to return to base without returning fire.

  The wing commander understood and notified the helicopter squadron commander. He passed on the order to the pilots, who acknowledged with double-clicks on the radio.

  In Austin, General Joe Thompson listened to the orders and approved. He once met the crews of the helicopter squadron and knew they were professionals with unswerving loyalty. His only concern was that the Secret Service agents in Idaho were just counterfeit chasers and border guards in suits. Once a Pinkerton man, he knew what real security meant. He feared they may not have firearm discipline. More than once in the past, a rookie with a gun caused trouble. The Boston Massacre was triggered by an inexperienced British officer.

  The present situation could blow up if it wasn’t closely monitored. He didn’t know Richard Sterling, the Idaho Highway Patrol commander, but he trusted the man to be professional.

  He relaxed slightly. With only the slightest provocation, the situation could turn into a disaster.

  The Secret Service sent four carloads of agents to intercept the commander of the highway patrol and the Idaho governor. Not that far behind the two men, they made up time fast.

  Listeners at Holloman AFB overheard the radio calls and knew the Secret Service cars were five miles behind Governor Frank Kellogg and Colonel Sterling, so they contacted General Joe in Austin. He contacted the operations section at Braxton AFB, which vectored the helicopters to intercept the Secret Service.

  The Army pilots called ahead and told Colonel Sterling to drive through the border posts and down to the awaiting escort vehicles from Utah. The Utah Highway Patrol, hearing that communication, quickly backed off.

  The attack helicopters stayed out of sight until it looked like the Idaho contingent of the Secret Service would cross the border into Utah. They popped up from a hidden valley in the Clarkston Range near Gunsight Peak and met the interlopers at the state border. If the Secret Service went into Utah, it was tantamount to an invasion of a foreign country.

  When the drivers in the Secret Service cars suddenly had head-on views of Apache helicopters in attack mode straight ahead, they hit the brakes. The only injuries came from one car that went off the road.

  Under the helicopter pilot’s seat was a 30mm Gatling gun capable of cutting a car in half. Mounted on the wings were four hard points to carry a variety of missiles, any of which would turn a car into smoking junk.

  Once the Idaho contingent made it safely across the border, the helicopter swayed back and forth, then the pilot used his public-address system.

  “Welcome to Utah and the Southwest Coalition of States. Now leave.”

  He waggled the helicopter again and made a 180-degree turn on his axis to follow and guard the Idaho car until Utah state police could accompany them.

  Later, the pilot said, “It was the most fun I had since signing up. I hope I can do it again.”

  General Joe, listening to the engagement, sent a message to the pilot’s commander to have a WO/4 insignia waiting for the pilot when he landed. The commander was glad to comply. The pilot defused a possible civil war.

  Governor Norton would later confer the Distinguished Flying Cross to the pilot and his weapons-control officer, in keeping with Governor Kyle Harris’ policy of rewarding outstanding service.

  Vice President Green and Secretary of State Kirby overheard the conversations, too. Both decided it was time for a shakeup in the Treasury Department and asked the Secretary of the Treasury in for an interview.

  “I don’t have to answer to either of you,” the Treasury Secretary said. “You’re the cause of all the nation’s problems. If you’d left well enough alone, the country would have continued as before.”

  Ray Green and Kirby were taken aback. Without admitting the president was disabled, they couldn’t force the issue.

  “If there’s nothing else, I have a lot of work to do to save the Union from its financial distress,” the Treasury Secretary said before the call ended.

  Green looked at Kirby. “I know he’s dirty. I intend to look into his background and push him to do what we asked or to resign.”

  Kirby nodded thoughtfully. “Leave it alone for a few days. He’s wary of all of us. We need the attorney general back here. I’m sure she’s angry enough to eat girders and spit nails. Treasury messed this up from the beginning. Secret Service is under Treasury, and it’s their responsibility.”

  Green agreed. He needed to talk to the director of the NSA. “I’ll talk to Burton later.”

  Green contacted the embassy for Great Britain and asked for an audience with the ambassador. A message soon came back

  indicating Lady Catherine would dine in McLane that night in a booth without anyone else. He agreed to join her.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Vice President Ray Green and Ambassador Catherine Blakely met at their favorite restaurant in McLane, Virginia, a private and discrete place. Members of the Secret Service took turns eating and watching as the vice president and ambassador shared an intimate dinner for two. Neither cared what the press thought, said, or did.

  “If there’s too much pressure because of our relationship,”

  she said. “I’ll request another posting.”

  “I won’t hear of that. I have no intention of resigning. I’d like to meet the press head on and tell them to tread softly. I recently reminded some of those shellac heads that the FCC works for me. They asked if that was a threat, and I told them a threat was something a person might not carry out. If they wrecked my life or hu
rt your career, those responsible would have trouble finding a job stocking newspaper kiosks.”

  No one called his bluff. It was the nature of their positions that when they met, their pictures would be in the papers the following day. They could deal with that.

  Catherine sensed something was bothering Ray and wondered how to ask.

  “Is this too much for one man to handle, Ray, as we’ve often heard?” she asked.

  He thought about his answer. “Maybe for some men, but I’m not one of them. I have Lillian Tremont and Kirby helping me all the way. Without them, it would be too much.”

  After a wonderful dinner followed by wine and poached

  pears, they finished the meal with small snifters of brandy. “I’d like to take our relationship further,” Ray said.

  She said, “Darling, I can’t think of a better thing for our lives, but it’s too risky for us right now. Waiting will make us more appreciative.”

  “That’s a wonderful sentiment. I intend to pursue it further.”

  “I won’t run from such pursuit very quickly.”

  A Secret Service agent gave Ray a hand signal, and he beckoned the man over.

  “Money Man needs you,” the agent whispered, using the code name for President Curtis.

  When Vice President Green explained to his companion, she nodded.

  “Call me if you need any support.”

  He kissed her cheek, and she gave him a quick hug and kiss in return.

  The Secret Service detail turned away and began discussing the exotic fish in the aquarium behind the bar.

  Ray regretfully left Catherine and walked toward the door.

  His guards fell in behind him and continued discussing the fish while trying to be discreet. They did a great job.

  Ray liked those service people. He intended to keep them on his detail as long as possible. Looking over his shoulder at Catherine, he saw her worried expression. He waved and smiled, and she tried to smile back.