7
Rini
General Zitor stepped off the plane into a cold rain. An aide held an umbrella over his head. They rushed to the waiting transport vehicle and climbed in. Threebeard, who was waiting inside, smiled at his old friend. “Welcome, General. Get in.” They embraced and Threebeard asked, “How was your flight?”
“Not bad, but I prefer being on the ground. I could never have been a pilot.”
“So, how is Lorin after her defeat?” Threebeard asked.
“Why don’t you go ask her? I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
“I’d like to give her my condolences. I felt bad about missing the funeral, but any meeting with Lorin Boskie now might make it look like I supported her rather than Chancellor Mammett.”
“So, it’s a free country. Isn’t that what we are fighting for?”
“Yes, of course, but if our new chancellor doubts my loyalties he might remove me as defense minister. Since I’m not a modest man, I can say that such a move would be a disaster for the war effort.”
General Zitor laughed. “No, nobody would ever accuse you of being modest.”
Threebeard motioned to his driver. He started the engine and they left the airport. The road to the base was clogged with traffic and troops moving south. Enemy planes flew overhead and occasionally one would venture down for a closer look.
“How long do you think it will be before they try to cross the river?”
“Sixty to ninety days is my guess. Maybe longer. They’ve just been through two major battles, so their soldiers must be exhausted. They’ll have to regroup, resupply their divisions, and plan their attack.”
“Plan their attack? It’s pretty simple, isn’t it? They just line up the hovertanks in front and let the infantry back them up. It worked well at Rizi and Rini.”
“But that was against the young and inexperienced 3rd Army. It won’t work against the regular army, I won’t allow it.”
General Zitor laughed. “I like your confidence, Threebeard, but how do you plan to deal with the hovertanks? They seem invincible.”
“Nothing is invincible. Did you know that three of our pilots destroyed more than a dozen of them at Rizi?”
“I thought our air force was wiped out at Rizi.”
“This was the remains of the 1st Airborne Division.”
“Of the mutant army?”
“Yes, I don’t know how they did it, but it proves the hovertanks can be destroyed.”
“If we had an air force,” General Zitor reminded him.
“Yes, if we only had an air force.”
“So, what is your strategy? How are we going to defend Rigimol?”
“I’ve talked to Captain Shilling who has set up a base of operations for the remnants of the 3rd Army. She’s hopeful she’ll have fifteen or twenty divisions ready when the offensive begins. Since we don’t have an air force and the hovertanks will destroy anything in their path, my plan is to only place token opposition against them. We will let them blast their way through our lines and then launch our attack from both flanks. Once we are in between them we’ll have only the infantry to deal with.”
“What if the hoveranks turn around and come back at you?”
“I’ve studied the last two battles very closely and have noticed a wide gap between the hovertanks and the infantry. The gap widens as the battle goes on. If we don’t oppose the hovertanks I believe they will be so far ahead of the infantry that, even if they come back, it will be too late. The two armies will be so intermingled that the hovertanks would kill as many of their own soldiers as ours, should they try to intervene.”
“That’s a very bold plan, Mr. Defense Minister,” General Zitor said. “But even if your plan works, what makes you think we can still win?”
“If the 3rd Army comes through and attacks from the west, I think the enemy will have its hands full. My objective is to hold the enemy at the river. We must hold the enemy at the river. If we do that, the morale of the army will falter and ours will soar like a dickel.”
“You think we might get a few defectors?”
“Precisely. Videl Lai didn’t let his men choose sides in this war. He pressed every TGA soldier into service, and they remain there not by loyalty to him, but for fear for their lives.”
“So, where does our Liberator fit into your scheme of things?” General Zitor asked.
“He’s to be promoted to Commander General of the 3rd Army.”
General Zitor’s eyes widened. “That’s quite a leap from Captain to Commander General. How do you think the 3rd Army’s command will take it?”
“Ordinarily, it would be an absurd thing to do, but right at this moment the 3rd Army is in shambles and there isn’t any command structure. We are only in contact with a few divisions and most of the officers are dead or missing. In light of that, I’m promoting our Liberator so he can rebuild and command the 3rd Army.”
“But will Chancellor Mammett stand for it?”
“He will for now. He has no choice. He cannot afford to challenge his Defense Minister on the eve of the greatest battle in the history of Tarizon. After the battle is over he’ll likely get rid of Commander General Lanzia any way he can, unless—”
“Unless what?”
“Unless, our Liberator proves himself in battle.”
General Zitor laughed. “Well, as much as I am a fan of Leek Lanzia, I don’t see how he could possibly be a factor in the upcoming battle. I mean—”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out if there is any truth to the Prophecy, because to be honest with you, General, it will take the intervention of God and Sandee to win this battle and save Tarizon from Videl Lai’s tyranny. I believe in the Prophecy and I have done all I can do to make it happen. I’ve thrust the Liberator into a position where he can fulfill his destiny. If I was wrong in doing this, then you and I and millions more will die, and Tarizon will fall into utter darkness.”
General Zitor swallowed hard and prayed Threebeard knew what he was doing.