Ashes - Standoff In The Ashes Part 26

"All you need," Ben replied, motioning for Cooper to get the old man some smoking tobacco.

"Anything else?"

"Can't think of anything else I need, General. But thanks for offerin.' "

"Take care of yourself, friend."

"You do the same, General."

Back on the road, Ben told Corrie, "Tell the Scouts to start prowling the back roads. Let's see how many people ignored the evac order."

Most of the towns were deserted, the people evaced north, but in the country-the 'hills and hollers,' as the old man had put it-many people had stayed.

"No resistance anywhere in our sector so far," Corrie said. "A lot of fighting being reported all along the Texas border, however."

Ben and his people pushed on north for a few more miles that day before Ben called a halt.

"Do you want to destroy the towns, General?" Ben was asked by his field commanders.

"No," Ben replied without hesitation. "Not unless the people left in the towns open fire on us."

Two days later, the Rebels had advanced about fifty miles north in all sectors. With the exception of Texas border, very few shots had been fired from either side. The Federals 224.

kept backing up, pulling the Rebels deeper into USA territory.

"That's it," Ben ordered at noon of the third day. "I don't know for sure what the h.e.l.l is going on, but whatever it is, it's about to come to a halt."

"There are no Federal troops moving in behind us," Ben's intel reported."Those citizens who refused to be evaced are just that-citizens."

"Can they tell you anything?" Ben asked.

"Not much. Most of them are senior citizens who stayed because they didn't want to leave. They are not armed, and many of them are friendly toward us. At least they're not hostile toward us," the intelligence officer added, amending that slightly.

"What did they tell you?"

"The residents were evaced out over a period of two days. It was a hurry up operation. One suitcase per person only."

"Where were they taken?"

"No one we spoke with has any idea. The only thing they know for sure is that many of the residents weren't very happy about leaving."

"It's screwy," Jersey said, after the intelligence officers had left.

"We've never hurt civilians. Not unless they were shooting at us. It's as if Osterman wants us to occupy this territory."

Ben looked at Jersey for a long moment, looked at her so long it was making her nervous.

"What, Boss? Have I got a piece of spaghetti hung up in a tooth, or something?"

Ben laughed and shook his head. "No! I just had a thought, Little Bit. I may have figured out-at least in part-what Sugar Babe is up to. Thank you."

"Thank me for what?"

"For giving me the idea."

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"What idea?"

Ben was heading for the como truck. He had a lot of talking to do with Cecil. He wanted to see what Cecil thought about the germ of an idea that Jersey had just hung in his head. If it survived several mental was.h.i.+ngs, diere was a good chance it just might possibly backfire on Madam President Claire Osterman and make her look more like the arrogant fool Ben knew she really was.

Ben was smiling as he walked toward the communications truck. "Gotcha, Sugar Babe!"

The newly elected Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jean-Francois Chapelle, did not mince words with President Osterman. "It won't work, Madam President. General Raines saw through your plan."

"Whatever in the world are you talking about, Mister Secretary-General?''

"Your scheme to make Raines's Rebels and the SUSA the aggressors in this civil war. A war which the USA started, I might add."Claire elected to remain silent.

"General Raines in now in the process of pulling his troops out of USA territory. He has a.s.sured me that if the USA will refrain from attacking the SUSA, all hostilities will cease immediately."

Madam President Claire Osterman remained silent.

' 'You are now free to allow those thousands of residents who live along the border with the SUSA to return to their homes and businesses. Your ruse didn't work."

"I really don't know what you're talking about, Monsieur Chappelle. I do appreciate your concern, however misguided."

"Of course, Madam President. Good day."

Claire Osterman leaned back in her chair and began 226.

cussing. Softly at first, then louder and louder, until she was shouting a stream of obscenities.

All of it directed at Ben Raines.

Naturally.

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"Madam President is livid," Cecil told Ben. "Herplanto have the United Nations condemn the SUSA for aggression was a total bust."

"Now what?"

"We hold where we are and wait for Osterman to make her move. She will.

She hates me that much."

"When the mercenary army arrives?"

"Yes. Intel reports they will be landing on both coasts at various ports. Also coming in by plane. General Berman will be the overall commander of all armed forces."

"That man doesn't like you very much, Ben."

"I know."

"He sure knows you from somewhere. Perhaps by reputation only?"

"Has to be, Cec."

The two old friends chatted for a few minutes longer before Cecil had to ring off and get ready to attend some fancy function. Once again Ben thought how fortunate he 228.

was not to have to put on a tux and stand around making small talk witha bunch of stuffed s.h.i.+rts. Cecil enjoyed it. Ben hated those functions, and usually ended up sticking his boot in his mouth, for he was no statesman. He was not known for having a lot of tact, and usually told of a situation or problem exactly as it was. He was not politically correct. He told the truth, and the truth is often not PC. He was a soldier, pure and simple, and loved the field with all its hards.h.i.+ps.

He walked outside of the old long-deserted home on the Tennessee/Kentucky border he was using for a CP, and stood for a moment in the late afternoon sun. His team was lounging nearby in the shade of a huge old tree. Corrie was taking a break from her normal duties as Ben's personal communications officer.

The Federals were fifty miles away to the north, and the residents along the border were slowly returning to their homes, unsure of what they would find. No home or business had been bothered by the Rebels.

Everything was exactly as the people had left it.

A runner from the como truck approached Ben. "Message from General McGowan, sir." She handed Ben a piece of paper.

Ben thanked the young woman, unfolded the paper, and read: BORING AS h.e.l.l HERE, BEN. I THINK I'LL TAKE A NAP.

Ben chuckled and tucked the paper in a pocket. "Tell Ike to forget the nap and go on a diet instead," he told the young woman.

She looked startled. "Sir?"

Ben laughed and patted the runner on the shoulder. "No reply."

"Yes, sir."

Ike's weight had been a standing joke between Ben and Ike for years. Ike was tubby, and that was that. He was 229.

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strong as a full-grown grizzly bear, and when he got angry his temper was about the same. Ike liked to eat ... a lot.

There had not been a shot fired in several days. The Federals were waiting for the mercenaries to show up. After that, Ben didn't know what was going to happen. The Secretary-General of the UN had asked Claire Osterman to cease hostilities. Ben had learned that Osterman had told the Secretary-General-in so many words-to go to h.e.l.l.

She had added that she was the President of the USA, and she would deal with the breakaway nation of the SUSA in any d.a.m.n way she saw fit, so b.u.t.t out!

Good ok' Claire Osterman, Ben thought. Diplomat to the core.

Ben went back into the house, poured a mug of coffee, then returned to the front yard and sat down in a camp chair and rolled a cigarette. As he sipped and smoked he noticed a flurry of activity around the como truck. Then Corrie got up and jogged over to the truck, fitting her headset on as she ran.Ben watched and waited, thinking, Something's up.

Corrie left the como truck and ran over to Ben.

"What?" Ben asked, snubbing out the cigarette b.u.t.t under the heel of a boot.

"Guerrilla raids deep in the SUSA, Boss. All over the place. Several dozen enemy teams involved. At least that many."

"How much damage?"

"Extensive in some areas. Power plants, water treatment facilities, office buildings. A number of citizens killed, scores wounded. No one has a firm figure yet."

Ben looked down into his coffee mug. It was empty. Anna took it from his hand. "I'll get you a refill, Pops."

Ben nodded his head in thanks. He was so angry he was afraid to try speaking for fear his voice would betray his 230.

very dark inner feelings-revengeful, killing emotions. Osterman had sent spec op teams in to kill civilians deep in SUSA territory. Madam Socialist President didn't realize it yet, but she had just cracked open the lid of Pandora's Box.

Corrie held up a hand as her headset crackled. After a moment, she said, "Danjou, Rebet, and Pat O'Shea have been wounded. All the other brigade commanders escaped injury. There was a series of hit and run attacks on brigade HQ's. Mercenary special forces came up from the rear."

"How hard hit are the three?"

"Serious, but not life-threatening. All three have been flown back to Base Camp One for treatment."

"Tell the XO's to take over immediately, and to await orders."

"Right."

"How many troops did we lose during the attacks?"

"Minimal, Boss. Getting numbers now."

"Get those orders out, Corrie. Then get me a link with Cecil. I'll be in the house."

"Will do, Boss."

Five minutes later, Ben was talking with the President of the SUSA.

"We've got about a thousand civilians killed, Ben, and the number is expected to go a lot higher. Hundreds and hundreds injured, many of them not expected to live."

"Women and kids, Cec?""Most of them were civilian workers. Women with kids in the various company's day care centers."

"G.o.dd.a.m.n Claire Osterman!"

"My sentiments exactly. Plans?"

"I've been so angry I haven't taken the time to formulate any plans. But you can bet I will."

"I have no doubts of that."

"I'll be in touch."

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