Chapter 20
Case White
___________________________________________________________
In view of the mounting violence
and vandalism, restatement of the party platform infuses much interest in Restoration
political candidates throughout the nation. There is special interest in
Joseph Adamson's initial speech which will be on the continuing theme of central
control of government and be held on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial in
Washington DC.
Radio talk show host Horace Hastings was embarrassed after
his appearance at the medical press conference and has laid off derogatory
comment on the movement for some few weeks but as Restoration candidates
make rapid gains in the polls, he resumes his interviews with atheists,
homosexuals and an assortment of special interest and human rights activists in
daily contemptuous attacks on all aspects of the political movement. On this
particular day, he makes no mention of the interviews to follow but simply makes
an opening statement, never mentioning advancements made in blue collar job
markets or breakthroughs in medical research.
"Well what do you know? Joseph
Adamson, the whore hopper who is running for president, will open his campaign
with a speech on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. This is especially
appropriate, because it was Jefferson who fathered a number of children with his
Negro slaves - you know, Adamson the whore hopper and Jefferson the slave
hopper. I'm sure some rap band is working on a song about that right now,
and I'll bet it sells a million copies on the first day it's released. It
does have a certain beat about it. Jeffy boy and Joey boy, drop those
pants, stick it out and let it look, find a cock and drill it good."
"Many thousands are expected to attend the speech.
It all reminds me of Adolf Hitler's speech to thousands of Nazi soldiers at
Nurnberg. His speeches conveyed emotion and had a mesmerizing effect on
exactly the sort of misfits and bums that are falling into the ranks of The
Restoration. They were all looking for someone to blame for Germany's
destitute condition after the 1929 Depression. Hitler had simply waited
for the ideal conditions for him to exploit Germany's impoverishment and began
to strengthen the economy through the preparation of war materials that created
the jobs so desperately needed. The Restoration is now exploiting
the opportunity of a declining economy and using the unthinking homeless in jobs
it has created to manufacture the false impression of recovery and never mentioning
this supposed recovery is only in the automobile industry and its
suppliers."
"Like Hitler, Adamson can be expected to appeal to
emotion and not better judgment. Oh, they haven't yet referred to anything
like a superior race - they have the insane idea of a superior Church that will
rule all. They continue to create in people's minds deprived conditions
that do not exist and further blind the masses of the illiterate and uninformed
they have recently registered as voters that may well put these fascists in office
after the next election. They're uniting a bunch of bums and hobos with
other dissenters into a powerful block of voting power but I'm asking, pleading
all voters to carefully read their platform. It is clearly a doctrine of
dictatorship. If The Restoration gains the power it seeks, it will
devour individual privacy and human rights, all cleverly disguised under the guise
of some comic book nationalism. Those who treasure civil liberties must
unite against those who are nothing but neo-Nazis, because if they're put in
power, soon there will be wiretaps and detention of anyone voicing free speech
against the party line. Their racist designs are unspoken but
obvious. They will rule with an iron hand by a Nazi-type occupation in our
own country. The nationalism they profess will quickly transform into fear
in the ultimate police state, and all under the command of a corrupt Church and
a whore monger in the White House."
The Restoration issues a statement
regarding critical editorials and reiterates the campaigns will not engage in
personal attacks on any opponents but will clearly identify the issues and
proposed resolutions. Adamson begins appearing in short TV spots
mentioning the central issues. Each spot is preceded and closed with a
graphic of some memorable time in American history, all very well produced and
edited by the Solomon Advertising Agency, the Jewish firm recruited by
Rubenstein. During Adamson's comments, images are flashed on the
screen. Some show long lines of jobless outside state unemployment offices
and quickly flash to Restoration workers on various job sites. Some
show the homeless being served meals in Restoration shelters.
Others show long rows of beds in pain management wards and are quickly followed
by patients being helped in and out of wheelchairs at hospitals that have
elected to come under the volunteer treatment crusade of The Restoration.
Many other party candidates begin low-cost campaigns of
passing out leaflets in parking lots and placing them on individual
mailboxes. Such efforts imply a degree of sincerity in the party's
position on political campaign reform, and its position against raising large sums of campaign funds from
special interests only to be squandered in making personal attacks on
opponents.
Talk show hosts are increasingly perplexed
when callers no longer have comments regarding sex scandals, the history of
Nazism but ask questions regarding the political issues of the country.
Unprepared for substantive questions, they have no answers and begin to cut the
callers off, calling them hate-mongers.
There is a united effort by large corporations to combat the
campaign's tax reforms. One TV spot shows 2 bums at a homeless shelter
with a picture of Adolf Hitler on the wall in the background. One bum is
gobbling down a sandwich and spilling it all over his clothes. The scene
then quickly flashes to a richly appointed conference room with well-dressed
executives seated around a large table. The screen goes blank, and a
serious voice says, "Who do you want managing your portfolio?"
Within days, the Solomon Agency responds with a spot showing
what looks like the same 2 bums in a similar conference room. One asks the other,
"Who do you want managing your portfolio?" The other bum says,
"What's a portfolio?" with his mouth full of a sandwich and some of it
falling out. The scene quickly changes to a patient being
transported into an operating room. The screen goes blank, and a serious
voice says, "This man's portfolio is the loving care of The Restoration."
At least in the initial stages, the campaigns seem to be
going very well. The public is beginning to recognize the true issues and
looking to candidates of all parties for workable solutions. Those bound
by special interests do not respond with ideas of substance and only continue
personal attacks on Joseph Adamson.
________________
Large throngs of people crowd the grounds
of the Jefferson Memorial and adjoining areas in a turnout much larger than
expected. There is an American flag between the columns of the memorial,
and in the center is the crucifix and wreath insignia of The Restoration.
There are no bands, no entertainers and surprisingly, the crowd is very quiet
with only the undertones of many conversations.
Blocks away, there is the noise of shouting voices.
Groups of protesters in several hordes begin marching into the crowd, swinging
their elbows and striking those waiting for the speech. Immediately,
police and SS of The Restoration appear with riot shields. They run
directly into the protesters who retreat into the next block and begin throwing
rocks at the police. The SS quickly sprints into the protesters and begins
beating them with billy clubs. A number fall to the ground and begin
screaming. Bull horns blare out "You are to disperse
immediately!" More rocks are hurled at the police who start throwing
tear gas canisters into the center of the mob, now considerably diminished in
size and organization. Slowly, order is restored and the police remain all
around the perimeter of several city blocks completely filled with persons,
still waiting for the speech and still completely still and quiet.
Joseph Adamson moves onto the speaker's platform; and for the
first time, he is dressed in the slate gray uniform of the political arm of the
movement, The National Artisans. His black tie is tucked into his shirt, and he is wearing a
large black belt with black shoulder strap and Restoration arm
band. The setting is so strange, as there are only hushed conversations
suggesting a feeling of great anticipation in what he will say. For a
political rally, the atmosphere is original, if nothing else. Skillfully,
he waits for the vast throng to come to a complete silence for a few moments
before he begins his speech. Throughout his presentation, he makes many
motions with his hands and arms - much the same as Adolf Hitler did in his
masterful ability to channel the minds and wills of the thousands that attended
his rallies.
"Many charges about the motives of The Restoration and my own personal life have preceded me, so what can I say about myself? Nothing. I am but one in a concern that is mounting by the day. What then can I say about the issues on which the election will be decided? Very much but first, let me comment on some observations some have made of our campaign of nationalism:"
"The movement is one of Nazism and hate."
"Where is the evidence of that? Is there hate in medical research,
offering hope to the homeless and launching efforts to help the sick through a
restored medical system? I cannot deny our design in conveying these
concerns has been one of emotion but it is not an emotion of hate but one of
loving concern for others."
"The movement is one that only seeks power and
ultimately a police state."
"I must agree in principal but not application. There
must be effective power through the Doctrine Of Central Control.
There is a fragmented government of states rights that must be repaired.
The government must be one that responds to the needs of its people and not the
demands of special interests. Indeed, there first must be a willingness and
then power to respond to disruptive influences that cannot be permitted to run
rampant throughout society, breaking down all will and determination as well as
national spirit. Combating these influences simply requires a strong and
organized central power."
"The movement is exploiting the sick and homeless in
order to gain political power."
"We have taken people off the streets, gave them food and shelter and
found them jobs in our construction projects. We have introduced
breakthroughs in medical research and initiated a system under which those
previously termed as hopeless can be given hope and the care they need.
With that, there has been a large volunteer response within the medical
profession never before seen in American history. Unsurpassed charitable
contributions have been received in record time and with that can be seen there
is a willingness of Americans to help those in need that only needs organization
through central control, and the building block of concern for others is
nationalism and the love of Christ. Certainly, these efforts are in the
formative stage but there is a clearly stated platform setting out reasonable
means to address and resolve all the important issues.
"The movement professes religion as its base but thus
far has only engaged in political and domestic issues."
"True, but this observation refuses to recognize there must be a
progression to restoration. First, there must be a restoration of
confidence in government through such steps as those already taken and not
superimposed with a self-righteous facing on a platform that refuses to admit
the shortcomings of the present system and is infected with an inherent refusal
to seek out solutions. Any objective and reasonable view must be that
before any attempt to unite a nation under one common belief in love and
understanding can only follow other steps that first must win the hearts
and minds of citizens in the belief there indeed can be a restoration.
There must be freedom from lobbyists, campaigns and programs dominated by special interests, large
political contributors and a disproven system of trickle-down economics that
first secures investment portfolios with no assurance any benefit will be seen
by the majority and certainly not those in the greatest need. I can only
ask that you evaluate the charges made against The Restoration and weigh
them against what we have actually done."
"At this very moment, the campaigns
will turn away from allegations, tabloid journalism and positions that avoid the
true issues and directly address many pressing concerns. Each week, we
will address one of these central issues through newspaper adds and television
spots, sound out what we believe the causal factors and clearly formulate
solutions. For now, take the overview of the complete platform and let me
touch on a single point........"
A single gunshot rings out from somewhere
in front of the memorial. Adamson is struck directly in the chest by such
force it knocks him from the speaker's platform and onto the ground where he
lays motionless with the entire front of his shirt covered in gushing
blood.
Most in the crowd drop down and begin to hug the earth but
eventually, they all stand within the same silence that has prevailed since
Adamson took the platform. Presently, some begin to cry when the siren of
an emergency ambulance is heard. The EMTs rush from the vehicle, knell at
Adamson's side and affix various monitoring devices. Finally, all the
attachments are removed and one of them resorts to the most primitive method of
vital sign measurement. He places his ear to Adamson's chest, shakes his
head and stands just before his body is placed in a black plastic
sheath.
The ambulance slowly moves onto the street and in the
direction of Restoration headquarters. All can only stare, still in
the eerie silence that has marked the entire day.
________________
The C3 building at headquarters has
operated 24 hours per day since the alert began. There is constant
communications between controlled regular army units and the situation room
concerning Case White, the code name assigned to the Atlanta defenses. Over the past week, attack helicopters have been quietly moved into
concealed hangars close to the targets in all areas where attacks are
anticipated. There are plans to keep airborne troop carriers in the air
around the clock, flying to a point of no return when another group of troop
carriers will take off as the first formation returns to base, refuels and
prepares for the next shuttle.
A jeep comes to a sliding halt outside the C3 building.
The driver rushes in and shouts, "Adamson has been assassinated!"
The duty officer grasps a clerk by the arm and says,
"Inform The Leader!"
Several officers rush into the situation room where
Kesselring is in a statue-like stare at the large map of metropolitan Atlanta
with various ornaments denoting the location of equipment types and charts
showing anticipated travel time to the anticipated targets at any time of the
day or night. The junior officers are in a fervor but Kesselring's
expression is unchanged when he learns of the assassination. He simply
nods his head and resumes his stare at the map. In a few moments, others
from the C3 section begin filing into the room and are quite taken at
Kesselring's demeanor that remains quite composed as they take their positions
around the table.
Kesselring picks up a pointer in one hand and telephone in
the other, pressing some speed-dial number and simply saying, "This is it -
code 1. They can't let such an event as this pass and not follow it up
with strong action. Don't commit anything until the password and
verification is received."
Immediately, there is the sound of motors starting throughout
the compound. Soon, tanks are rolling out the gates with a large spacing
between vehicles. Machine gun crews take positions at various places
within a 10 block radius of headquarters. At several private airfields
throughout the city, fighter aircraft taxi into takeoff positions and
stop. Gradually, the sounds of the churning motors stops and there is
again the chilling silence.
Suddenly, the door to the C3 building swings open and someone
shouts, "Detroit, Chicago and New York City report coordinated street
riots."
Kesselring never takes his eyes off the map and calmly says,
"Let them implement their own plans. We must direct our attention
here."
Several minutes pass until there is a radio report from
outpost 1. The sounds of small arms fire can be heard in the speaker as an
excited voice says, "Mobs are shooting people and setting buildings on
fire!"
The C3 asks, "How many are there?"
"Twenty or thirty."
Kesselring finally takes his eyes off the map and says,
"Don't commit anything. It's a diversion."
They continue to wait for 30 minutes or so, only hearing the
sounds of the mobs over the radio transmission until there is the message,
"Outpost 5! There is a column of 35 tanks moving down Moreland
Avenue!"
Kesselring glances at the map and says, "They're headed
for the Majestic plant," before entering another frequency and ordering,
"Move armor group 1 in front of the Federal Prison. Prevent them from
turning onto Crescent Avenue."
He begins talking to himself. "Where's the bastards' infantry?"
Just then, mortar rounds begin exploding inside the compound,
and there is a frantic report for Outpost 2. "There's a tank column
of about 30 moving from the vacant warehouse area on Railroad Access Way!"
Within a few seconds, Outpost 5 makes another report.
"Large force of foot soldiers sighted with RPGs and .30 caliber support
weapons. They're beginning an advance from several housing projects onto
Crescent Avenue 2 blocks behind the tank column!"
Almost simultaneously, a heavily breathing voice from Outpost
2 screams, "Foot soldiers with weapons platoons advancing parallel to
Railroad Access Way about 2 blocks behind the tank column!"
Kesselring enters the command frequency and orders,
"Position armor group 2 at the intersection of Pryor Street and Railroad
Access Way."
Motors can be heard several blocks from the compound as a
column of 10 Restoration tanks begins speeding towards Pryor Street just
as the enemy tanks come into view. The forward most enemy tanks open fire
and disables 2 tanks squarely in the center of the intersection. The other
Restoration tanks quickly turn onto a side street parallel to Pryor
Street and move into much-preferred lateral firing positions. Railroad
Access Way is blocked by the burning Restoration tanks and the attackers
are lined up in close formation, waiting for the lead vehicle to push them
away. Tank cannon fire streaks across the vacant lot at the side of the
attackers. There are red and orange explosions, huge clouds of dense black
smoke streak into the sky and voices scream out in foreign languages.
Kesselring is again on the command frequency to Outpost
2. "What's you situation?!....Damn it, what's going on?!
In something of an unstable voice, the outpost reports,
"Most of the tanks have been hit. The others are pinned in and can't
turn around."
"Where are the foot soldiers? Where are the foot
soldiers?" Kesselring screams.
In a more relaxed tone, the response is, "Son of a
bitch! They're running back down Pryor Street. There's a number of
duce and a halves picking them up."
For the first time, Kesselring loses some degree of his
composure and starts talking to himself again. "God damn. This
is another diversion. The main attack point is the auto plant. Those
bastards getting into the trucks are the reserve force."
Machine gun fire erupts from the compound's defense perimeter
and everyone's head snaps to the windows on the right side of the building where
they all see the Zonno tank crews abandoning the burning vehicles and a well-planned
pattern of traversing automatic weapons fire through overlapping fire sectors
cutting them down.
The C3 begins a restrained laugh and says, "I wonder
what tactics school those stupid son of a bitches went to."
With that, there is the sound of many tank cannons and
automatic weapons coming from the direction of the Majestic plant.
Kesselring's eyes turn in that direction, and he says, "They've got their
timing fucked up. They didn't sustain the attack on the compound long
enough. They've probably got much more than they've already committed to
the attack on the plant. Let's get over there."
Kesselring and several staff officers jump into a jeep and
begin frantically speeding towards the plant. His voice can barely be
heard as he shouts into the jeep radio, "EZ 3, this is EZ 1. Airborne
shuttle 3 is 100 miles from the auto plant. Order a jump at coordinates
043930. Get behind the attack force but do not commit! EZ 4, this is
EZ1. Order all armor to take positions in assembly areas 3 and 4.
Alert helicopters to stand by for support missions! Alert the
fighters!"
The jeep speeds through deserted streets as the sounds of the
raging battle become louder, seeming to confirm Kesselring's believe a
much stronger force than originally sighted in making the attack. The jeep
stops on high ground in Grant Park. Kesselring is out before the vehicle
stops and observing the battle area with binoculars. His hand drops to his
waist as he sees many, many tanks on all the streets adjacent to the
plant. Some are assuming fire support positions and others moving ahead of
the advancing infantry. The forward defense perimeter of the plant has
been penetrated and the lifeless bodies of scores and scores of Restoration
infantry litter the streets. He throws his binoculars to the ground and
dashes back to the jeep radio. With rage in his eyes, he screams,
"EZ1 to EZ4. Code 1. Fighter support mission at coordinates
0356789. Get the armor!" Immediately, he enters another channel and shouts,
"EZ 7, this is EZ 1! Helicopter support mission at 0356789.
Hold take-off for 15 minutes. Come in at 300
feet and attack with Gatlins and rockets. Get the infantry!" He looks back at the defense perimeter, now obscured by smoke
from the knocked out tanks but through the breaks in the dense black and gray
clouds, it is clear no one is left alive within 3 blocks of the auto
plant. The Zonno tanks are moving towards the front of the infantry as it
quickly assumes attack formations.
Tanks inch down the street in front of the plant, now only
protected by a few automatic weapons positions inside the gate. The lead
tank opens fire, scoring direct hits on 2 of the positions. For a moment,
the entire column stops; and after observing only sporadic small arms fire from
the grounds of the plant, it begins a turn into the parking lot and increases
speed. The column crashes through the fence, rolling over many dead
bodies. The infantry falls in behind, enters the grounds and splits into
several groups that begin advancing on the main production
buildings.
Franklin Earnshaw and Fred Townsend are laying under a
drafting table and clinging to the floor as if they're trying to pull it over
them. Fred shields his briefcase like a mother with a newborn baby.
The door to the building is blow away by the percussion from a nearby explosion,
and he can see the original prototype of the American Classic in the path of the
approaching tanks. He gasps, "I've got to save it!" picks up his
briefcase and starts running towards the vehicle. A large explosion tears
into building 3300 and sends brick, wood and sheet metal flying through the
air. A large piece of sheet metal strikes him in the upper chest and
severs the entire top of his body, propelling him violently through the air and
slamming him against the window of the American Classic. He crashes
through the window and strikes the dashboard before falling on the front seat in
a disfigured mass barely resembling the human body, but still holding his
briefcase.
The tanks begin firing on buildings throughout the premises,
as the infantry crouches behind them and watches. The parts warehouse is
hit by several rounds bringing down the side wall, and a section of the roof
collapses. Fires run across the floors into the gasoline and oil storage
areas just outside the building producing a massive explosion of red and orange
flames sending black smoke shooting into the air.
Kesselring's mouth tightens, and he mumbles, "God
dammit, that's going to obscure the targets!"
There is a whistling sound from the west moments before 7
fighters of the regular Air Force appear and assume the echelon formation but
the smoke has obscured the Zonno tanks from their direction of attack.
They quickly bank to the left before beginning staggered attacks with laser
guided rockets making several direct hits on the first pass. The infantry
is confused and looks to the platoon leaders who are now obscured by the dense,
black smoke. With no organization, they break unit integrity and begin
running behind the receiving buildings where they start setting up .30 caliber positions, never realizing very few foot soldiers remain on the premises.
They're all laying on the ground and can't fire at the attacking airplanes,
because they can't raise the muzzles of their weapons high enough from the prone
position. The tanks cease firing on the buildings just as the fighters
begin their 2nd sorties, scoring more direct hits. Crewmen begin pouring
from the flaming vehicles. Some of their uniforms are on fire, and they
take only a few steps before falling and being reduced to charred ashes.
When all the armor is disabled or blocked by burning tanks, the fighters break
off the attack and disappear into the east. The Zonno unit leaders order
the infantry back into attack formations amid ineffective .30 caliber fire from the
remaining defenders. There is a moment of quiet before foreign shouts are
heard to continue the attack. Demolition crews fall in behind the
infantry, now advancing towards the near helpless defenses.
Kesselring is cursing under his breath, "Where are
they....where are they!?"
There is a faint chopping noise in the east just before 10
attack helicopters appear, all with the insignia of regular Army units.
They form into the line attack formation, at some 300 feet and begin firing
Gatlins into the Zonno advancing infantry. Scores and scores of enemy fall
in front of the burning tanks as again foreign voices ring out - this time
ordering a retreat. They're all running through the parking lot and across
the 18th fairway of the golf course at the side of the plant towards a line of
trees adjacent to the golf course. As soon as they enter the flat ground
of the fairway, many machine guns erupt from the tree line. Men scream as
multiple rounds tear through their bodies. In the chaos in the sudden turn
in the battle, no one notices the formation of 10 regular army troop carrying
airplanes flying directly over the plant. Soon, many parachutes fill the
air as the airborne infantry begins a jump over the parking lot of the Westside
Mall. As soon as they're on the ground, they begin well-organized
maneuvers, setting up machine gun crews at the edge of the parking lot of the
mall; and within only a few seconds, are spraying traversing fire all across the
fairway. The entire Zonno attack force, minus the tanks, is caught in the
pre-planned killing ground, and hundreds of men are now running away from the
tree line towards a wooded area some 200 yards away. They're all very
close together, and the firing patterns bring down more and more of them as they
drop their weapons and begin stumbling over the bodies of the dead and
wounded. The forward section of the retreating force reaches the wooded
area but those towards the rear drop to the ground, still in the fairway and
knowing if they stand in the flat ground, they'll be immediately cut down.
Gradually, the automatic weapons cease fire, and there is an ghostly
silence only pierced by the sounds of the flames from the tanks and
production buildings. Through the smoke, there is the sound of a jeep
approaching the edge of the fairway. Kesselring again jumps out before the
vehicle comes to a complete stop, and the driver and regular army communications
specialist remain inside. Briefly, he observes the defenseless enemy
infantry before his eyes fall in a cold stare at the regular Army infantry
captain, kneeling on one knee with a few non-coms. Kesselring breaks into
a rage and shouts, "Captain....captain....god dammit, what in the hell do
you mean?!!" Our mission is to destroy the enemy, and there you sit like a
frustrated housewife watching a soap opera! You're relieved!"
He grabs one of the non-coms by the arm and still in the incensed tone, shouts,
"Get those goddamn machine guns set up, right now!"
Like frightened stray dogs, the crews and ammunition bearers
set up at the edge of the fairway just as Kesselring, somewhat more restrained,
says, "The automatic weapons will rake the battle area for 10
minutes."
The weapons burst out, kicking up dirt all around the Zonno
infantry, some still in the parking lot and some on the fairway. Those
still alive get up and begin running towards the wooded area but the withering
machine gun fire from the now 2 firing positions cuts them all down after only
a few steps. Some on the near edge of the parking lot begin running back
towards the plant but the few remaining weapons positions on the plant grounds
join into the random firing patterns, score many hits and force the others to
again fall to the ground.
Kesselring shouts, "Keep the son of a bitches under
sustained fire," as he looks around and sees several mortar crews watching
in awe. He drops his hands to his side and then mockingly motions to one
of them with his finger. A staff sergeant with his mouth half open comes
forward. Kesselring grabs him with both hands and orders, "Get those
fucking weapons firing. Lay down a barrage on the outside of the wooded
area and edge of the parking lot! Keep them pinned down in the killing
ground. I don't want to see a single one of the son of a bitches walk away!"
The mortar rounds begin falling on both sides of the
enemy. There is the sound of falling tree limbs from the fairway and the
the jagged sound of cars being struck in the parking lot. Everyone's eyes
are fixed on the devastation just as additional attack helicopters appear and
join the slaughter. Ground and air weapons continue the
relentless attack for some 15 minutes until Kesselring calls for a cease
fire. The sounds of the raging weaponry continue to echo through the
wooded area until all falls quiet.
Kesselring walks in front of a regular Army 1st lieutenant
and asks, "Would you be the executive officer of this company?"
The lieutenant glances around, probably looking for the
captain Kesselring relieved.
Kesselring moves a few steps closer to him and says,
"God dammit, look at me when I'm about to give you an order!" He
points to the ground and says, "Get me 1 platoon of men right here."
Like frightened children coming in from kindergarten recess,
the platoon falls in behind Kesselring who signals the skirmish formation, and they
all start a cautious walk into the battle area. Kesselring observes the
dead and wounded as though he were a golfer walking towards where his t-shot had
landed. There is a communications specialist a few steps behind Kesselring
as though he were his caddy. Mangled bodies with arms and legs missing
litter the ground. There is an unharmonious chorus of screams and moans
from those still alive. Kesselring comes to a group of bodies heaped on
top of one another. He kicks a few of them over as though he were
a stock clerk taking inventory. He looks at the mass of bodies and begins
saying, "Mexican, North Korean, Vietnamese." He picks up a few
of the rifles and says, "Like everything else in American, they're all made
in China."
A dazed man with a bloody head wound and eyes blinded with
blood stands and begins staggering in a small circle. Kesselring draws his
Luger and shoots him at point-blank range crushing his skull and sending bone
fragments flying through the air like confetti in some sort of parade. He
motions to the communications specialist who begins to place small black cylinders at
regular intervals throughout the wounded. After a few moments, his
complexion becomes white, he kneels down beside a squad leader and begins to
vomit.
The squad leader asks, "What in the hell did you just
do?"
The specialist takes a deep breath and says,
"Those are portable, high intensity microphones. Kesselring has loud
speakers rigged all over Atlanta. The whole city is going to hear
this."
In every section of the city, there is a clear, loud
transmission of the sounds of the moans and cries of the wounded. At intervals,
the ghastly sounds are interrupted by a contemptible, shouting voice,
"Listen to what's left of your squint-eyed, wet-back bastards!
They're all laying there drowning in their own blood with their body parts all
over the ground like beer cans at a garbage dump. Listen you
bastards! Listen!"
Kesselring looks at the lieutenant and says, "Find that
candy-ass captain. Get the medics to the plant first. Don't come out
here until everything there is taken care of." He walks back to the
jeep and stares at the plant, then orders the radio operator to contact
headquarters. He interrupts headquarters' transmission and snaps, "Do
you have the starting points of the attacks identified?!"
"Vacant warehouses and vacant shopping center at
coordinates 249765 and 265065."
"Where are the fighters?" Kesselring asks.
"Circling with half of their ordinance remaining and
waiting further orders."
Kesselring nods and says, "Good. Where are the
helicopters?"
"All ordinance used. Circling and awaiting orders."
With no hesitation, Kesselring orders, "Order the
fighters to attack the starting points. Land the helicopters behind the
plant to be reloaded. Give them all orders to wipe out the whole blocks of
the starting points. Don't leave a god damn thing standing an nobody
alive!"
A group of fighters is seen speeding towards the west while
helicopters land on the plant grounds and are re-loaded from several deuce and a
halves that emerge from the back of the premises. Within minutes, the
fighters are at low altitudes descending on what at one time was once a
furniture wholesaler forced out of business due to unreasonable demands made by
the unionized employees. A number of people shout curses in foreign
languages as they run for cover. Two of the fighters peel off and strafe
directly in front of them. They all run into the torrent of .50 calibers
and are immediately killed. The other fighters ascend to a higher altitude and
begin laser rocket attacks on the buildings. Huge, earth-shaking
explosions, suggesting substantial explosive storage, boom out as the buildings
are quickly consumed in flames and begin crumbling from the impact of the
explosions and heat.
Within seconds after the fighters break off the attack, the
helicopters make several runs, spraying Gatlin rounds over the entire block
before assuming higher altitudes and discharging full rack loads of
rockets. Bricks, metal and wood fly through the air and slam through the
windows of buildings for several blocks. As the attack is broken off,
large explosions can be heard from the direction of the shopping center from
which a portion of the Zonno attack originated. After 20 minutes or so,
all falls quiet. Frightened civilians in disbelief make their way onto the
streets throughout the city, gapping at the numerous columns of smoke that mark
the areas of massive destruction.
Kesselring walks back to the jeep, makes a jerking motion to
the driver and says, "Get over there," pointing in the direction of
the flaming warehouse area. As they move out, several jeeps with mounted
.50 calibers fall in behind. Kesselring sees the captain he had previously
relieved, briefly stops at his side and says, "Captain, its a rough
business."
The procession of jeeps stops several blocks from the flaming
warehouses. Kesselring head moves from side to side as though he were
watching a tennis match. Suddenly, his head comes to a jerking stop
as he sees a number of Chytinos among the burning buildings. Immediately,
he is on the radio. "What air support do we have left?"
"There are the 5 fighters in a controlled National Guard
unit that you ordered held in reserve."
Kesselring snaps, "Bring them in. There's still
people alive and I see a few walls are still standing. Nothing must be
left - not one brick and not one single son of a bitch!" Impatiently,
he waits until the jets are seen overhead. He doesn't take his eyes off
the target as the planes first strafe the entire block. A few persons flee
from the rubble but quickly fall under the curtain of rounds. When no one
can be seen in the entire block, the planes discharge all their rockets in
several sorties, resume formation and return to base.
Walking slowly in front of the jeep with his arms folded,
Kesselring murmurs, "You sorry son of a bitches, you'd better never give me
another chance like this. I'll kill everyone of you within a hundred
miles."
________________
Zonno tanks run unchallenged down the
streets of New York City, periodically stopping and firing into large office
buildings before reaching the main objective which is Wall Street and the
financial district. Infantry closely follows pumping small arms fire into
those running between the buildings with no concept where they are going.
Screams ring out, there is the continuous sound of breaking glass and the blunt
sound of automatic weapons fire striking sides of buildings.
A column of 25 tanks enters Wall Street in file formation,
increases spacing between vehicles and stops. They all begin firing on
the New York Stock Exchange bringing the columns tumbling down. The rounds
crash through the ground floor doors. At first, there are screams but
then, only the sound of cannon fire and falling walls. Dense concrete dust
obscures the entire street as the tanks fire at will until all ammunition is
expended. The crews quickly abandon the vehicles and join the infantry,
now running in many directions among the muted moans from the rubble of the
fallen buildings. The ground attack is broken off after only a few
minutes, and the attackers, just as C2 had predicted, are picked up by a large
number of vehicles that disperse in all directions.
A few civilians venture out into the street. Someone
shouts, "Where are the police!?"
Saying nothing, another person points into the adjacent
blocks to scores of blue uniformed bodies extending as far as can be
seen.
________________
The Leader calls for a critique among the
Inner Circle the day after the attacks. He looks at several reports on the
table in front of him and says, "In the local area, Case White achieved 85%
of its objective. There was minimum damage to headquarters but production
at the Majestic plant will be set back 2 or 3 months. Casualty report -
2347 dead, 1539 wounded, 538 missing and presumed dead - mostly Restoration
forces. We were very fortunate the enemy's scheme of maneuver developed as
predicted but the attack force was much stronger with much more armor than
anticipated. If air support had not been called in, we would have lost the
plant. If the airborne had not blocked the Zonno retreat route, a large
portion of the enemy force would have survived to begin its guerilla activity
but all reports suggest it was completely destroyed. Aside from that, our
battle tactics and follow up action should have created a high level of fear
among the insurgents. With forceful martial law presence, we can prevent
their reorganizing into a guerilla force. Field Marshal Kesselring and all
on the inside defense perimeter at the plant are awarded the Saint Jude's
Badge. Kesselring's planning was brilliant, not to mention his commitment
to achieve the objective by completely destroying the enemy force."
"Cleveland and Detroit were struck
with a much smaller force, and Restoration forces with local police
assistance stopped them before they reached the Majestic plants or material
suppliers. All of
the equipment and most of the infantry were destroyed. We can't say the
same for New York City where the Zonno completely achieved its objective by
inflicting large property damage and casualties. This has produced the
degree of fear that was also their goal; and although the armor was abandoned as
expected, there is a large force of insurgents throughout the city well equipped
to for a sustained campaign of terror attacks. The police force, at least
at this moment, can only offer a weak deterrent due to the casualties
it suffered during the initial attack. Some 2000 were killed and many
hundreds wounded. To make matters worse, the hospitals have people dying
in the hallways. They're no longer staffed to meet such an emergency with much of the space
assigned to pain management."
"We should expect the terror tactics to expand to other
cities. Especially in Atlanta, we lost many Restoration soldiers
and much equipment but we must expect what will follow from the Zonno won't
require response by superior firepower or conventional military action. A
guerilla war has the advantage against a conventional force." He
looks to the C3 and asks, "What are your recommendations?"
The C3 begins sifting through his briefcase and says,
"Rubenstein is holding a press conference tomorrow. We're bringing in
Civil Affairs and Military Police from the regular Army."
The Leader holds up his hand and asks, "Can we
effectively do that without control over such units? We presently have
representation only in combat arms units."
"After the attacks, we don't need to worry about control
or command presence. The need is obvious. We can deploy such units
and they'll never know the command structure. General Gallager has already
got it all set up."
"Isn't he the Army Chief of Staff?"
"Yes. The president is holding a press conference
tomorrow afternoon. We needed to be damn sure Rubenstein goes on before
him. That bastard won't do a fucking thing, and we need to fence him in with
our plan."