"Robert Hall Jeffries has filed for election to the post of President of the new republic. There was a concerted effort to draft Hal Browning and Bill McKay to run for the office of President, but both declined the attempts. For this election Jeffries will be opposed by the Governor of Washington, Andrew Verath, a veteran of Viet Nam, former Attorney General of Washington and owner of a large lumber operation in that state."
Tom Adams received a pleasant surprise on the 15th of November. "Mister Kironu, how good to hear from you." It was the Japanese consul in Seattle calling to say that Japan had extended full diplomatic recognition to the North American Union.
"The consulate will become the Japanese embassy in the new
capital," said the consul.
"I am extremely grateful for this act of recognition but as Acting Premier, I can not receive the new ambassador. The newly elected President will, following his election in December." The consul graciously thanked Tom and wished him well in the coming months. The Japanese had followed the unfolding events in the west with a keen interest. Always shrewd diplomats and businessmen, they had hoped for more favorable trade relations with the new country than they had enjoyed with the US. That fit in nicely with the plans of the NAU which had defined their role in the Pacific Rim rather than Europe.
The new nation had passed its first test as the junior member of the community of nations. Tom was smugly proud of the advanced planning that had been done by the permanent committee to prepare for the NAU's entry into diplomatic circles. It had been decided that only the major nations would be considered for the location of embassies abroad. This included Japan, Australia, China and Korea in the Pacific, Russia, Germany, England, France, plus the USA. In keeping with its policy of a trim government, the NAU would request the Swiss to handle their diplomatic affairs in other countries. Application for membership to the UN would be made as soon as the new government was formed.
Tom Adams met Carol Osteen in his office for their daily briefing. Carol was everyone's clear choice for the post of Treasurer for the new government, assuming she could become a member of the new legislature.
"Since the release of the Declaration of Separation," began Osteen, "the independent states ceased their payments of income, corporate and all other Federal taxes to the Treasury of the US. These payments are being placed in a special account in a bank in Denver, much like an escrow account. Payments to the Social Security fund were likewise stopped and are being placed in a trust fund in another bank in Denver."
"The separation of the west from Canada and the US is, as much as anything, a problem for the accountants," said Tom.
"Yes, Social Security funds in the US do not really exist as a separate account. The US government has been using these revenues for the operation of the government. When the separation became a reality one of the great problems for the US was the shortfall of revenue from taxes and FICA income."
"But those retirees located in the west continued to receive their Social Security benefit checks, didn't they?"
"Yes, mostly because of the inability of the bureaucracy to determine a way to stop them," explained Carol to Tom.
"So the US government is dealing with decreased revenues, while their expenses remain the same. This situation could create the first great confrontation between our two countries, couldn't it?" asked Tom.
"Mister Adams, it's hard to say. But I would bet that the US will just have to accept the fact and learn to deal with it. What else can they do?"
As the winter snows continued to fall in the west, people prepared to cast their ballots for the first Legislative Assembly. To run for the Assembly, Tom Adams resigned as Governor of Colorado; he was that sure of election to the body. Bill McKay decided at first not to run for a seat in the Assembly, but then was persuaded by Adams to do so. Hal Browning also ran from his district in Oregon. All of them ran unopposed and thus were elected. The day of the election was crisp and the skies over much of the west were a deep blue. Only in northern and middle Canada was there a threat of snow. Running on the Progressive ticket, Robert Hall Jeffries easily won his contest over Verath of Washington and became the first President of the North American Union.
The formation of new political parties had come about as a result of the move for independence. Led by Hal Browning, Bill McKay and Robert Jeffries, a parallel movement for the redefinition of party lines had occurred. The old Republican and Democrat labels were cast aside, replaced by Progressive and Social Democrat. In the former Canadian areas, the Liberal party remained intact.
Jeffries' first official duty was to request Tom Adams, the representative from Colorado, to form a new government.
"Mister Adams," began Jeffries in his phone call, "as President of the North American Union, I invite you to form a new government. With a majority of thirty Progressive party members in the Assembly, you may begin by naming a cabinet."
"Thank you, Mister President. I accept your invitation. I will name the cabinet members today and present myself to you at your convenience."
The following day he drove to the Office of the President to present his credentials. In a brief and unrehearsed ceremony amidst television crews and reporters, Robert Jeffries officially designated Tom Adams as Premier of the NAU and asked the newly appointed Chief Justice to swear him in. It was done. Tom Adams would preside as the chief executive officer of the new nation.
While still in President Jeffries' office, holding a glass of champagne, Tom looked up to see Mitch Elliot burst into the room.
"Tom, Mister Premier, Mister President, the US is massing troops in western Missouri! Their intentions are unknown." Tom turned to looked at Jeffries, whose face had turned ashen.
Chapter XII
Repelling the Attack
"Mitch, slow down now. Tell us what you know." Even before he gave Mitch a chance to say anything, Tom Adams motioned for two photographers to leave the office. Jeffries followed them and closed the door, then turned back to Tom and Mitch.
"I just received word from our committee headquarters in Denver and they got it from our Kansas National Guard commander," answered Mitch. Retired General Dan Wolfe had suggested to the committee that they put in place a contingency plan for threats from the United States by utilizing the army and air national guards of the eastern states, Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Though militarily the North American Union was not as great a threat to the United States as the US was to them, and had no intent in that direction, the same could not be said for the intentions of the US. The plan Wolfe suggested was centered around using these units to keep a watchful eye to the east by employing satellite technology and visual patrols from airborne radar listening posts. This was the first use of the plan and the news it brought did not seem good.
"Mister President," said Tom to Robert Jeffries, "We are very vulnerable right now. As you know we have no standing army, navy or air force. But we do have one powerful gambit that we can introduce to the game, if need be."
"And that is?" asked Jeffries softly, reviewing the horror of war in his mind, the unthinkable consequences of such an undertaking.
"Common sense and public opinion," answered Tom. "I cannot conceive of any scenario under which the president of the US would attack us without provocation. Public opinion in his country would crucify him before the second tank fired a round.
"I hope you're right, Tom. We cannot consider even throwing a rock at them. I will not preside over a war between our nations. My first thought is that he is running some kind of bluff just to test our resolve. Mister Premier, call an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee and tell them we'll meet in one hour here in my office. If they can be gathered before that time, we'll meet when they have gathered.
The National Security Committee consisted of Dan Wolfe, the Defense Minister designate, Sam Brouchet, Tom Adams, Hal Browning, Mitch Elliot, now the assistant to the premier, and president Robert Jeffries. The committee had been a part of Dan Wolfe's recommen
dation and was loosely modelled on its counterpart in the United States.
Twenty-five minutes later, after finding all the members at a party celebrating the elections and the swearing in of the Premier, they sat around the large walnut conference table in Jeffries' office.
"Gentlemen, we have been advised that US troops are assembling in western Missouri, just south and north of Kansas City, apparently the US air force is on alert and troops still stationed in bases in our territory are now on alert. Since we have no standing army or air force, a showdown would be, to say the least, a contest that could last no more than a day or two. I am open to suggestions, thoughts, ideas," opened the President, Robert Jeffries.
"Mister President, I would like to hear reconnaissance reports from our air and army guard units before we go much further," responded Dan Wolfe. Can we get a conference call going with them and let them be our 'eyes'." Wolfe was using the simple, parsed phrases so familiar to him from his years in the military. He knew without an appraisal of the other fellow's assets, that planning would be, at best, imperfect, and at worst, disastrous.
"That's being arranged right now," offered Mitch Elliot, who had anticipated such a need in the short time he had to prepare for this meeting.
"Good man, Mitch," said Wolfe. "There may be our first call," said Wolfe as the red phone buzzed on Jeffries' desk.
"I'll put this on the speaker, gentlemen," said Jeffries as he picked up the phone and pressed the speaker button. "This is Jeffries."
"General Schmidt here, Mister President. I'm calling you from Omaha Air National Guard."
"Jim, how the hell are you? Dan Wolfe here. How's it look out there?" Dan Wolfe and Jim Schmidt had served together twice, in Viet Nam and the gulf war. They knew and respected each other. Wolfe needed to talk to one of his own right now, to gauge the tactical situation which confronted them. "Jim, realize that you're addressing the NSC right now, the President, Premier and Misters Brouchet, Browning and Elliot."
"Affirmative, sir. I sent out scout planes two hours ago when I was advised that troop activity was picked up around the Platte area of northwest Missouri. I coordinated with General Watkins in Kansas Air. He tells the same story of troop movements just south of Kansas City, down to nearly Springfield. Is he on the line yet, Dan?"
"He may be coming online right now. I see another flash on our phone," answered Sam Brouchet, who had been uncharacteristically silent throughout the proceedings. "General Watkins?" asked Sam. "This is the office of the President, Sam Brouchet speaking. Generals Wolfe and Schmidt also online."
"Watkins, Dan Wolfe here. Do you recognize my voice for confirmation, or you need a code?" offered Wolfe as a way of walking around the problem of not knowing Watkins that well.
"No, sir, I recognize."
"Fill us in, please. Jim Schmidt just told us about troop movements all up in the Platte region of northwest Missouri. He's online, too. Do either of you see a method to madness, any strategy to the movements?" probed Wolfe.
"I don't. Do you see any, Jim?" asked Watkins of his counterpart in Nebraska.
"I really do not. I see little air movement. The troops are mainly infantry. I see little armor out there or it's damn well camouflaged. The troops are just moving up and down, north-south. They aren't moving westward," explained Jim Schmidt.
"Maneuvers?" asked the President. His face screwed up in a frown. The weight of decision was on his shoulders, after all. No one could relieve him of that burden.
"A distinct possibility, but for the fact that all troops within our territory have also been put on alert," said Wolfe.
"But are they going anywhere, the ones in bases in our country?" asked Sam, his first contribution to the meeting.
"No, they appear to be sitting tight right now. They have just closed the gates and canceled all leaves and passes," said Wolfe.
"Let's call the president of the US and ask him what the hell his intention is. We could spend all afternoon and night here and not really know what's going on in his mind. Let's put him on the spot and see if he raises or folds," Sam said with conviction.
"I think Sam may be right," said Jeffries. "A little direct dialogue might clear the air one way or the other. How many agree?"
Jeffries saw no objection to the idea from any of the members and dialed the code number which was his direct link to the president of the United States. "Mister President, this is Robert Jeffries. I am calling you from a meeting attended by some of my advisors. They tell me that your troops are massing around the northwest and southwest areas of Missouri and that you have put troops in bases in our country on alert. Would you be kind enough to shed some light on these rather provocative moves?" Jeffries measured each word with care and precision before uttering them. He wanted nothing he said to be an admission of weakness nor a statement of machismo; he sought out a neutral point midway.
"Why, Mister President, I'm surprised that you would think that our intentions are anything but inoffensive. We just felt that we needed to stretch our military muscles a bit. After a long nap, so to speak. The weather is clear and bright. Good for the men to get them out in the open." The president was insulting the intelligence of the westerners by his remarks and Jeffries could see that Sam was not reacting well to those contrived remarks. Sam motioned to Jeffries that he wanted to speak to the president. Jeffries nodded his approval.
"Sam Brouchet here, Mister President. I think you and I both know that is a loose interpretation of the truth. You have a lot of territory to the east to stage maneuvers. Why use the two best paths that are available to strike at Denver. That's good tank country from KC to Denver." At those remarks Dan Wolfe just became a member of the growing Sam Brouchet fan club. As an old tanker himself, he mentally patted Sam on the back for his insight.
Robert Jeffries had kept his finger on the button as Sam spoke just in case Sam had one of his famed temper fits, but he liked what Sam was saying and nodded him to continue.
"Mister President, you and I have known each other a long time. Can I hear your assurance that those troops will move out of the area within forty-eight hours? Or should we direct our defense department to crank up our best air national guard units to prepare for a turkey shoot along Interstate 70 and 80? You know how our western national guard units beat the pants off your regular air force units in annual competition." Jeffries almost pulled the plug on Sam but he had to hear the response to that one. Dan Wolfe was smiling. Still on the line on the conference call were Schmidt and Watkins, who could hear but not speak; their proud smiles reflected Sam's knowledge of the facts.
"Now Mister President," said the US president in response to Sam's factual but inflammatory remarks, "You fellahs are a little new at this, so I won't be offended at what could be construed as a mild threat. Sam, I see no call for comments like that. All of us know that a military action in either direction would tear the heart out of our peoples. We respect your integrity."
"Can we assume that forty-eight hours is a reasonable time frame, Mister President? If so, we'll have our air units stand down. I don't want to preside over an accidental conflict," Jeffries said, still offering conciliation.
"Seventy-two at a minimum. We have a lot of equipment over in that vicinity."
"I think that's acceptable to everyone here, Mister President," said Jeffries as he glanced about the table to mentally count the nods of approval. "Good-bye Mister President. Extend my best wishes to your lovely wife and your family." Jeffries, always the gentleman, the patrician, the Anglophile, courteous even in conflict. He placed the phone on the receiver and looked at Sam.
"Sam, I didn't know you knew the President that well," Jeffries started. "How far back do you two go?"
"Many years. I contributed to his last campaign, the obvious big mistake in my life. I've advised him in the past on business matters. And I knew him through Bob Winston when they were both in the senate."
"But you pulled his string, Sam," said Dan Wolfe. "How did you know about the air guard s
uccess in the annual competition? That was quite a bluff you pulled."
"I have a lot of friends in the air force," said Sam simply. "And that was no bluff."
The others looked at Sam with a bit of a quizzical expression on their faces. They thought, "Who does Sam think he is, anyway, bluffing the US president like that? And why did Jeffries put up with it?"
In Washington, the President of the United States placed his phone on the receiver and turned to his military and civilian advisors on the National Security Council. "Well, we know they have an effective, if primitive, military capability. That damned Sam," the president laughed as he said it.
You'd think he was running the country, from the way he sounded. Let's wait two full days, then begin a pullout from Missouri. Don't hurry. I want to see if they've got the balls to follow up on their threats. Your comments, gentlemen. None, then let's call it a night."
Chapter XIII
The Effect on the East
Jake Bream had been an investment counselor for twenty of his fifty years. He had watched helplessly as the stock market slowly melted in the heat of the recent political events. His office in Boston had been a cauldron of activity throughout the late summer and early fall. The call from C. T. Hodges was the first of many to come that day. "Jake, how bad is it today?"
"It's still pretty grim, C. T. The general market is down another forty points and the Dow is down about fifteen."
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