by Unknown
“Yes he did. So as I take it, we can drop a lot of dumb bombs and a few of the more high tech, but the big stuff will have to wait.”
“That’s exactly right, Mister President. I have pilots behind the throttles and these older planes are not fly-by-wire. I’ll need to train them a little, but we will give more than we take.”
The President smiled at the man. He was really enjoying this. Then he turned to the last two men at the table. “Ok, I have a Marine Corps, and Air Force, and a Coast Guard. What about my Army and Navy?”
Both men knew their days were numbered by the way he asked the question. The Army general answered first. “Mister President, I have troops that can go anywhere, but I won’t send them into combat without the proper support. All my helos are down except for the ones in Europe and the Middle East. The tanks are electronically controlled and supported. My communications gear is non-existent and things like handheld missiles are worthless. Even the Paladins are computer guided. My suppliers say they are trying to get some boards made up as spares, but that takes a lot of time. Then I need to retrofit the machines so they won’t be affected by EMP again. We are talking months for the parts, then gearing up, training, all that needs to be done to be ready – eight months at the earliest.”
The President almost scowled at the man. Then he turned to the admiral. “And the Navy?”
The admiral had already been dreading this one. The word quickly came back to him on how the President handed Granger his head in Norfolk. Now it was his turn. He took a deep breath. “My ships are sitting inport unable to start or barely able to move. The radars are down, the combat systems are down, and there are no parts that work. If we did get them fixed, and another burst happened, the sailors would be stranded on their own ships. At best, I can field a carrier without planes, a few cruisers and destroyers. I can throw in four old destroyers brought up from some South American country or another, but they are worthless in modern warfare. I still say we need to build while we fix to be ready for anything that comes up.”
The President sighed. “Well, as I said, that’s not good enough. While you gentlemen have been planning on this big party, a few people have been getting some work done. I am here to tell you our enemy is North Korea. I just found out for sure last night. From the briefing I got this morning from the CIA, it looks like they have also initiated ground operations and have crossed the DMZ. Our forces are currently falling back. This little shit of a nation has effectively kicked us in the balls and a couple of you are willing to let him do it until worse happens. Well, not on my watch.”
The President looked at all the men. “We are not going to let this country kill our people, practically destroy our livelihood, and take over an ally because the timing isn’t right or we want to make things perfect. Gentlemen, this nation is going into harm’s way and I need leaders, not politicians. General, Admiral, you are relieved. I will contact your reliefs personally. Thank you for your service.”
The two men rose from their seats and exited the room. The rest of the men paled slightly but maintained their composure. Once the dismissed officers had left the President spoke again.
“Gentlemen, I didn’t like doing that, but I can’t let someone’s ambition or laziness jeopardize this country. I need people who are fast on their feet and can make competent decisions. Do any of you know Admiral Johnson or General Bradley?”
General Black sat back and laughed. “I know both. Johnson is a wiry son of a bitch that gets things done. He got to where he is by being smart,” he chucked. “And choosing someone from Omar’s family is better than a political move. He and I were the ones that thought up the exercises four years ago when we effectively beat the blue forces. He’s smart, crafty, and one mean son of a bitch when he’s pissed off. I can’t think of two better guys.”
Foote agreed. “Bradley worked with me on a project a few years ago. He knows how to lead people and get things done. I’ve never actually worked with Johnson, but I have always heard good things. I doubt you will have much start up time with either of them.”
“Then I will call after this meeting. In the mean time, what can we get short term to Korea?”
“I think it’s up to me,” Foote said. We have men and equipment in Okinawa, Guam, and a few other areas nearby. I have a few B-1s available. Let’s cut orders to transport by best available means all the troops, equipment, and ammo we can to South Korea ASAP. I can fly over the orders, but getting the things moved is something else,” he said.
“Let my staff wrestle with that part,” Black said. “Let me see how many people we are talking about and how much stuff. I’ll get back to you tomorrow afternoon on what we come up with,” he said.
“Good enough. Just remember we need to keep those guys going until we really can get our guys there,” the President urged.
“While we’re on the subject, what exactly did you mean when you said you had some things going on?” Black asked.
The President grinned. “As of this morning, within three months, one 8-inch and one 6-inch gun cruiser, about fourteen destroyers,” he paused for a special effect, “and about seven battleships.”
Black sucked in a breath. “God, I’ve died and gone to heaven. Now I won’t worry about putting my guys on a beach. Whose idea was that?”
“Hammond.”
“I like him. Can I have him when you’re done?”
The President laughed. “All in good time, General. Thank you all for coming in. We have a good start here. Let’s make it better,” he said. The men left the room to start a process that would continue for the next several months.
Memphis, Tennessee
General Claire Richardson was a busy woman. Upon arrival in Memphis she immediately toured the area to see how much had been done since she had left. It hadn’t been that much, but it was a start.
Within 24 hours the four evacuation areas had been set up with tents and services. Makeshift hospitals were erected and the doctors had begun their work. Luckily, local physicians were rounded up and lent their help. Triage centers were the first stop for everyone who walked into a camp. Once a diagnosis was made the individual and family were moved into their respective treatment areas. Those not needing treatment were sent to huge tent cities and given work to do. Most of the time this work was either helping move people or to clean up rubble that was not radioactive. The sickest of the people were moved into the university dorms where they could have a stable, clean environment and more dedicated care. In a few days the worst cases were removed to larger centers by train. People wanting to move somewhere to be with relatives were allowed on departing trains or to travel on the roads (if they had an operating car). Most stayed.
By the end of the first week, more than 475,000 people had been evacuated or were in shelters. The medical units were operating and the sick responding to treatment. Those who were well were asked to help start cleaning up the city. They started going through neighborhoods block by block, clearing rubble and hauling it off to landfills. In areas of radiation, federal teams went in with special suits to wash down the materials until the hazard passed, then haul the materials into a central location. Unfortunately, the radiation wouldn’t go away for a few thousand years. Plans were made for putting all the radioactive rubble in the center of what was downtown Memphis and covering it with a concrete dome.
Richardson entered the “Carolinian” railroad car that had been her home and office for the past three weeks. After pulling the curtain on the window, she kicked off her shoes and took off her uniform coat. She had just settled into one of the arm chairs when the telephone rang. It never ends, she thought as she picked up the receiver.
“Damn, Claire, you do good work,” said the booming voice of General Black. Richardson laughed. The two had worked together closely on the project and they were getting to become very good friends.
“Bet your ass. I may even get elected,” she quipped back.
Now it was Black’s turn to laugh. “So I hear,�
� he said. “I got to tell you, Claire, everyone is impressed as hell up here. You have put them all to shame, lady!”
“Isn’t easy,” she said. “I’m still upset about shooting those looters early on, but it had to be done.”
“That’s right. You made the tough one and it worked. I know I appreciate what you’ve done and I know the President is ready to marry you,” he said.
“Tell him he’s not my type,” she chuckled. “But I appreciate how you both backed me up and got some things down here ASAP when we needed them. It really helped,” she said. Then she turned a little more serious. “Now what has you calling me at 11:30 at night?” she asked looking at her watch.
“Plain and simple. It’s time to quit your cushy job and come back home. I have something going on and I need you here. When can you get back?”
She sat up in the chair. “How soon do you need me? I need to get some word to my people.” She knew this was something serious. Black didn’t make many calls like this.
“Claire, I can’t talk on this phone, but turn things over to your number two and hightail it. The night train should have gotten there. Have them hook up your car and drag you back up here. I’ll send down a replacement.”
“Howard, never mind the replacement. Bostic has his shit together. Let him keep running it. If he starts to lose it, he’ll be the first to call for backup. Is that okay?”
“I’ll cut the orders. Tell him to assume command tomorrow morning. I need you here, Claire. We have work to do,” he said solemnly.
“I should be there tomorrow night then,” she said. Black heard her sigh on the phone. “It was fun while it lasted.”
“Trust me, Claire, you will love what I have in store for you.”
“I’d better,” she quipped. “I’ll see you sometime tomorrow then.”
“Good night, General,” Black said as the line went dead.
Richardson looked down at the handset and then placed it in its cradle. Standing back up, she put her coat back on, opened the rear door and spoke to the sentry. “Get Colonel Bostic and the department heads over here right now, then get some coffee and some snacks ready. We’re going to be here for a few,” she barked.
The sentry saluted and said “Aye, aye sir!” then called for the duty Corporal. In ten minutes the car was abuzz with activity.
South Korea
It was like a maze. Hufham and Ricks skirted around the mountains, major roads and places where they could hear activity. Late in the third week Hufham eased down a hill toward a wayside gasoline station about 10 miles outside the major city of Chuncheon, far away from the regular roads. It was a nondescript building with an old metal gas pump in the front. The pump looked like it had come from the 1950s with mechanical numbers on the front. After a few instructions, Ricks left the Jeep and made his way around the station while Hufham watched the front and right side. There was a small shack on the far side of the station with no lights showing. Hufham waited in the cover beside the road until he heard a footstep nearby.
Ricks emerged from the grasses beside him and shook his head. “Nothing around the building. There is a family in the small building beyond, I can hear two sets of snoring. No other movement. I could see through a back window to the garage. There’s an old car in there and some tools and supplies, but nothing much else.”
“Okay, the object is to get the Jeep filled and refill our cans. We can’t just drive up and blow the horn,” he chuckled softly. “So the best way is to fill the cans and take a chance we can refill them after topping off the Jeep. Let’s grab a can and do this quietly,” he said as he began easing back toward the spot where the Jeep was hidden.
Ten minutes later the two men eased around the corner of the garage and entered a back door. Getting through the garage was a chore. Cans, tools, and other equipment were scattered everywhere. A couple of times metal could be heard as it dropped to the floor or was kicked. Each time, both men tensed and froze in their steps for a few minutes to make sure they had not been given away. Then they slowly began the process again. Eventually they made it to the front of the store. Behind a small desk there was a fuse box with several switches. Hufham pulled out the flashlight and covered it with his hand. After turning it on, he eased the fingers open just enough to see the switches. They were all marked in Korean. Hufham recognized one set as the pumps. Both were in the “off” position. Praying that he was right, he flipped the switches. He heard some clicks outside near the pumps, but no lights came on. He wasn’t sure what the clicking was, but after only a second it stopped.
They quietly opened the front door and eased to the pump. Hufham looked around at first, then removed the hose and inserted the handle into the top of the first can. “Wrap your arms around this thing to muffle any sound,” he said. Ricks did as he was told and Hufham eased the handle on the side of the machine up.
The pump began to hum as the electric motor came to life. The noise seemed to fill the air although it was barely above a murmur. Ricks could feel the vibrations flow through his arms and body. It was probably a good thing he was holding on – the pump would probably rattle noisily if he didn’t. There was gas in the tanks and it began flowing rapidly into the first five-gallon container. Hufham and Ricks continually scanned the area to make sure they were alone and no one was sneaking up on them.
The first can filled. Hufham removed the handle of the hose and inserted it into the second can. As it started to fill a voice came out of the dark, scaring both nearly out of their shoes. “There are some other cans in the back. You want them too?”
A figure suddenly appeared from the door of the station. “You guys must be hiding from the DPRs,” the figure said. “Well, they are all around here now, so I would stock up and get moving.”
The gas started running over the top of the can. Hufham let go of the handle, stopping the flow. His hand was already on the pistol in his belt. “And who are you?”
They heard a chuckle. “Lee Tai Nu, I own this station. Next time, you might want to look in the little room around the corner from the desk. I have a small bedroom back there,” he said quietly. “The DPRs came through here earlier and passed this place by. There’s a checkpoint they set up about half a mile down that way,” he said pointing down the dirt road. “Let’s get you another can.”
Hufham reinserted the hose handle in the machine and turned the pump off. “How did you know who we were?”
Another chuckle. “The DPRs wouldn’t have been sneaking in. They would just take everything. Come on back.”
Hufham shook his head. He was right. It was pretty obvious. He motioned for Ricks to follow him as they entered the garage and stepped into the room behind the front office. The door was closed and a small light turned on. In front of the two men stood a young man, slightly smaller, but well muscled, his eyes were bright. The young man passed them a blanket. “Hang it over the door,” he said. Ricks took the blanket and did as he was told. There were three nails in the wall that matched holes in the blanket. It effectively blocked the light around the door.
“You know you scared the living shit out of us back there. I was ready to blow your ass off if you hadn’t spoken English,” Hufham said.
The young man smiled. “That’s why I was hiding behind the door sill when I spoke,” he said.
Hufham smiled. “You said something about stocking up?”
The young man walked to a closet and pulled back the curtain. There were cans of food on shelves and dried meat hanging from the ceiling. He looked at Ricks. “There is a wooden crate on the floor. If you can fill the thing up, we can get another couple of cans for more gas.”
“Hold on, partner,” said Hufham. “What’s the deal?”
Lee smiled. “The deal is I come with you. It won’t take long before these cretins find out I was a sergeant in the Army up until a month ago. When they do, my life won’t be worth a pile of dog shit, and you know it. So I am going to collect some things and we are going to get the hell out,” he said
lifting the lid on a footlocker. There was his uniform, and an old M-1 with several boxes of ammunition. “It’s my dad’s rifle, and my uniform.”
Hufham held out his hand and Lee handed over the rifle. It was well oiled and could have passed even his inspection. Hufham smiled and tossed the rifle back to the man. “Get dressed quick, sergeant. We will need to be about 20 klicks away before these guys find out you’re gone.
Lee quickly donned his uniform as Ricks packed up the crate with the food and some water bottles. Then the light was turned out and the men silently left the building. Walking quickly, they loaded the Jeep and filled the tank, then went back to refill the cans again. This time, they also brought back two additional cans of gas and put them in the floor of the Jeep.
Hufham turned to Lee. “Okay, now which way should we go?”
Lee glanced down the road. “Can’t go that way, but I know a couple of dirt paths we could use. The word I get is our lines are about 10 miles to the southeast. But I don’t have any idea what’s between here and there.”
“Where are these paths?”
“Let’s go. I’ll show you,” he said getting into the passenger side.
The Jeep started smoothly and pulled back into the road. About 100 yards up, they turned down a narrow alleyway to the left between two houses. At the end of the way, they charged through the bushes, up a narrow path, and out of sight.