the Admiral said. “And Curt——take care of your old man.”
“Always sir.”
Chapter 5
Team Building
The President sat down at his desk waiting for all the invited to take their places. Arlen Hendry was first to arrive and took a seat on the couch. Next, Arthur Cantwell, Secretary of State, was ushered into the room, greeted the President, and sat down across from Hendry in one of the wing backed chairs. Admiral Torrance came in with apologies five minutes late—traffic was stacked up around Washington that day.
“I brought all of you here today because we have finalized our redeployment and survival plans. In particular, what do we tell the rest of the world? And when? Now? When we’ve completed the redeployments and put into play our survival plans? I want to know your thoughts.”
“Mr. President,” Hendry said, “you know my position on this. If we were going to disclose, it should have been immediately. To disclose now, while our plans are in progress, could well sabotage those plans.”
“Arthur? Your position?”
“I have to disagree with Arlen. Every day that goes by means another day the other countries aren’t preparing. I don’t think I want that on my conscience.”
“Evan, I know your position, is there anything that you can add?”
“There is one other thing I think both Arlen and Arthur have missed. When this gets out there are going to be countries that take stock of their abilities to care for their populace. Many will come to the conclusion they simply don’t have the wherewithal to meet the demands like we can. For example, China can’t feed it’s people now, the United States, being the breadbasket of the world…will look awfully tempting. We had better get our house in order before we announce anything to anybody. It may be nationalistic, but I’m really not willing to sacrifice my own nation on the risky possibility of saving someone else’s.”
“Admiral, you really think the Chinese would invade the United States?” Secretary Cantwell asked.
“If you recall in the middle of the first decade, Mr. Secretary, the Chinese began securing oil imports from all over the world to support their exploding economy. It was their aggressive activity in that area that started the dramatic rise in oil prices. They would stop at nothing to get that oil. And they will stop at nothing to secure food for over a billion and a half people. Don’t forget not only China would be looking at us with envious eyes, but India has over a billion souls to feed as well. Both have huge, well trained armies, and both are nuclear powers. No, I adamantly oppose early disclosure. Get the redeployment done and let General Hanken implement his survival plan.”
“All of you have valid arguments for and against,” the President said. “At this point I think it best we maintain our stance on nondisclosure. When we feel we have repositioned ourselves from a military standpoint and can provide for the security of the nation, then I’ll feel more comfortable revisiting this issue. And as for my conscience, Arthur, well…I was elected to make hard decisions. This one’s just bigger than most.” The President stood. “Thank you, all, for your input.”
Alex eased the jet in for a smooth landing at the Executive Airport and taxied to hangar nine as instructed by the tower. Mitch Reilly, airport manager, was standing, waiting with his hands shading his eyes as the turbines whined to a stop just short of the hangar opening. Alex and Curt went through the shutdown checklist and met him at the exit doorway of the jet.
Alex shook hands with the man, trying not to rush him. He was feeling the clock ticking right down to his bones. “I understand you have something for me?”
Reilly nodded to the hangar behind him. “This is your private hangar, paid ahead for three months. General, I received this package last week from none other than Howard Carney, the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Am I right that he’s just one step away from being the top dog right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Wow. Well, Howard put a note on here it says, this is an open contract for services, you bill it, General Hanken signs it, and we will wire the funds in ten days to an account you specify, no questions asked. In all my years as an airport manager I have never seen such a contract. You must be doing something real special for DOD.”
Alex winced. He was going to have to let Howard know he needed to have a flunky make arrangements if he wanted to remain inconspicuous.
“Mitch, “he said, “listen, there are some things I’ll need. I’ll try to give you a 48 hour notice when I plan to fly, but there will be times when an issue comes up suddenly. I can see needing a one hour turnaround. So I want a Level 2 ground maintenance preflight check performed each time I land, struts, rudders, brakes, fuel pump and oil pumps, hydraulic lines, avionics integrity and an environment system check.”
“Wow again. I’d have to put two mechanics on the plane.”
“Bill it, and I will sign it.”
Mitch ran his eyes over the plane with a look that Alex usually reserved for women.
“This is a real beauty a new C-21 Lear, now I realize it’s not the A-10 you’re used to, General, but you didn’t have leather seats, a refer, and a coffee maker in you’re A-10.”
“True. Besides, people had a tendency to shoot at me in the A-10. In my old age I’ve decided to take it a little easier.”
“And you deserve it. By the way do you want to keep your King Air in its old hangar?”
“Yeah, that’ll do for now. See you later Mitch.”
Alex and Curt took separate taxis to their homes. Curt needed to get hold of Cynthia as soon as possible. Alex immediately called Dr. Chenowith to set up a meeting. She was on another call so he left a message for her to call him. Next he called Pete Cernak at the BLM in Coeur d’ Alene and set up an appointment.
He was packing some fresh clothes when a small black telephone next to his bed—his new secure phone—rang. Alex Han—“
“Why the hell didn’t you call sooner? Don’t you know the world’s coming to an end?”
“Dr. Chenowith, I presume?”
“That question wasn’t a joke. I’ve been waiting for your call for three days now.”
“I’m sorry, but I only heard about you yesterday, and I’ve been a little busy since then. You’re not at the top of my punch list.” He said it before he recognized the pun, then decided he didn’t mind the pun a bit.
“So General Hanken— it is General isn’t it?”
“Yes Dr. Chenowith— it is Dr. isn’t it?”
“General, I fear we have gotten off to a bad start.”
“You think? I would have hung up a long time ago, but we have a job to do, and I’m willing to put up with a lot to get it done.”
“Ah, now that’s the stuff of a military hero. That Silver Star and all those other medals they must be a heavy burden to bear.”
“No
