CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
At precisely 7:00 a.m., the assembled Patriot Council abruptly stood as Mitch Ishnik confidently entered the room. The Council saluted their leader, who then began to speak.
"I am always strengthened by knowing that I have the full backing of the Patriot Council, and that each of you can be relied upon to do your duty.
"I believe that today, our actions will save our nation, and cause our names to be praised by future generations and historians. Our names, and our deeds, will define us. Success today will vanquish all who would dare to oppose constitutional authority.
"We must not fear our opponents, and dare not to be timid. Our enemies have already put their nefarious plans into action. They have killed one President, and taken advantage of a sick President, in an attempt to weaken this nation and its people's resolve. We have seen some in our nation, because of a lack of understanding of the Constitution, do foolish things that have aided our enemies. Some other Americans, at this precarious moment, out of pride, and a lust for power, are trying to seize control of the government. This Council must stop them, taking whatever action is required. We must preserve the Constitution.
"Let me speak plainly with you. I know you will agree with me, when I tell you the whole situation.
"Intelligence sources have discovered that President Carr was killed by a 'for hire' squad of former KGB assassins. These killers were paid for the hit, by the North Korean government, who want to sow confusion and fear in America. They want America to turn inward, and away from taking care of its allies, like South Korea.
"Our 'intelligence' is 'good' on this. We have found out the truth. It has been confirmed by allied European intelligence agencies, and also by the KGB itself; which is actually trying to track down their rogue former agents. What I am saying to you is right, we can be confident we have the facts.
"As you have seen and heard in the past twenty-four hours, President Woods, and a few Congressional leaders, have tried to engineer what amounts to a coup d'état. They have tried to install a General as the 'Acting President,' the 'de-facto' President. General Bull Pinchon is laying claim to the American presidency. We are not going to let this stand. As patriots, it is our duty not to.
"Therefore, I have already begun decisive action, to 'smoke out' of the White House, the 'pretender President,' and to gain control of various government departments. Thus far there has not been bloodshed, and I hope that such will be minimal. But we have to be willing to let anti-patriots die for their cause. If they oppose us, and do not submit to our authority, they will be killed. We do not need to shed tears over this.
"I have sent General Ucclese, and the Airborne to take control of critical places. He is a capable officer, and his troops are well disciplined. There was in the beginning a little confusion as to what his orders were, but he is straight about it now. I am expecting General Pinchon to try to escape the White House to rally support for himself. Ucclese is to capture or kill him. Once Pinchon is removed from contention, this constitutional charade that President Woods began, will come to a halt.
"As the Federal Officer next in the line of succession, that is presently capable of leading this nation; and because of Woods incapacitation, I have already taken the oath of office, and am now 'President.' Once again, if other federal officers and other agencies declare their loyalty to me as President, then they will remain as they are for a period of continuity. If they do not, they will be removed from their responsibilities, by all necessary means.
Ishnik went on, "For the time being I have also retained leading the DoD. This will temporarily simplify the chain of command, and lines of communication. I need you to be alert, and help me execute my responsibilities. Undoubtedly as we settle into control, your assignments will change and increase, as I will be appointing many of you to high office, heading many federal departments and agencies. Your patriotism will not go unnoticed, or unrewarded. Can I count on you?"
The council stood, and placed their clenched fist over their hearts. A chorus of voices swore their loyalty to the Patriot Leader, the President of the United States of America.
Secretary Strate spoke, "Mr. President, do what you have to do, we are with you. Save our government! Save our nation! Save our freedom!"
"Now to your posts," Ishnik said. "Await further orders, report all opposition, be loyal."
The council broke up, and Ishnik returned to his office, accompanied by Strate, Olds, and France. General Yates arrived a few minutes later.
"Secretary Ishnik, Sir," Yates said.
"You mean President Ishnik…," Strate snapped back.
"Mr. 'Acting President,'" Yates continued, "We have problems at the demilitarized zone in Korea. North Korean forces have beaten up American guards within the Panmunjom compound. Moreover, their Army has begun deploying very provocatively. They are moving up to near the DMZ into offensive positions, rather than defensive ones. Also, their artillery has sunk another South Korean mine sweeper operating near one of the disputed islands, just south of the line of control. We may soon have a shooting war."
"Don't get too excited," Senator Olds said. "I have been around a long time, and the North Koreans are just flexing their muscles, and showing themselves strong. They won't actually start a war."
"No," said Secretary Strate, "they know by now that our Intelligence agencies have 'outed' them, in the assassination of President Carr. They are worried about our response, so they are being bellicose and belligerent. But they won't go too far."
"You have more confidence in the North Koreans than I do," replied General Yates. "And besides, we can't let them kill our President, and get away with it."
"All in due time, Yates, all in due time," said Ishnik. "We will have to punish the North Koreans, but later, when we have restored the strength and resolve of the American nation. Right now there is too much fear. That's why we have to be brave."
Senator France asked Yates, "What did you think about the Patriot Council meeting?"
"I was surprised at what we were told. I didn't know that the North Koreans had used Russians to kill Carr. And ...I thought Pinchon was to be arrested, not killed. I didn't know we were threatening to kill anyone who opposed us."
"Yates, I told you before, don't get weak on us!" Ishnik said. "I have things under control. Pinchon hopefully will be arrested, not killed. I told you before that I wanted him to be tried for treason. He might die after that, but it would be a fair trial. So buck up!"
Strate spoke up, "Yates, you are a General. You have a duty to your Commander-in-Chief. Follow him, trust him. Everything will come out right. Go keep track of your Army."
After Yates left the office, and went on his way, Ishnik said, "Strate, we have a problem there. He is still pining about Bull Pinchon. He doesn't like it that Pinchon has to die."
"Yeah, I think he saw that the only hope Pinchon has is a treason trial. ...And that would just end in a conviction and execution. He doesn't want Bull, dead," said Senator France.
Strate spoke again, "I will watch him even more closely. If he goes AWOL, or gets sentimental about Bull …well there are other Generals that can become Army Chief Of Staff. It might be necessary for General Yates to have an illness, or accident…"
"Or die!" Olds said. He is either with us all the way, or he is against us. He has been useful to us as a tool, but he is not the brains of this operation. He believes us, that the North Koreans killed Carr, so all may not be lost. He may come around, but Strate, you do keep an eye on him."
"I will!"
Meanwhile Yates returned to his office. He told his secretary, "Get me General Terance Jonston, at Pacific Command."
A few minutes later his secretary said: "General Jonston is on line one, Sir."
"'Terror', Willy, here, I have some questions for you. ...And I would appreciate you keeping this conversation quiet."
"What's up, Willy? What's bothering you? Washington getting t
o you? We both need a good small war to keep us busy."
"Well, we may get a big war instead."
"Yes, I saw the reports about the Korean provocations too. Still, I don't think they will 'jump the wall.'"
"I hope you are right," said Yates. But I want to ask you about the North Koreans."
"What about them?" said Jonston.
"Have you heard or seen any intelligence, or even rumor, that the North Koreans were involved in President Carr's assassination?
"No, I have heard nothing. Where did you get that?"
"I got it from Ishnik, and Strate, and their friends."
"I haven't heard anything like that. I would think if that were true that we would have been placed on a war alert."
"Yeah, me too! If you hear anything through other channels, let me know; I may not be getting all the intelligence reports around here. And, keep this quiet …but you might breech the subject to General Gnies."
"Ok, Willy. But I say this as an old friend, keep your eyes and ears open too! I can't tell you why, I have been ordered not to. But I got another phone call earlier tonight ...and Ishnik is in deep trouble, and if you are involved with him, so are you. You need to make a little room between you and Ishnik.
General Yates hung up the phone and called out to his secretary, "Connect me to General Ucclese, at his field command."
A few moments later, "Sir, General Ucclese is on line three."
"Yates here; General Ucclese, we need to talk.
"Yes Sir."
"What are your orders from Secretary Ishnik, has he ordered you to kill General Pinchon?"
"Sir, first of all, Mr. Ishnik says that he is the President."
"At the most he is the 'Acting President,'" said General Yates.
"Sir, I am not a constitutional lawyer, but..."
Yates interrupted, "None the less, has he ordered you to kill Pinchon?"
"He has ordered me to arrest Pinchon, but Ishnik made it clear that he will not be disappointed if the General dies in the process. He ordered that my troops should fire upon even threatening action by the Secret Service, or if Pinchon were about to succeed in escaping."
"General Ucclese, I am now countermanding that order. You are not to get into a gunfight with the Secret Service. That is not what our Army does. If you can detain Pinchon, do so, but then deliver him immediately to my custody. Do you understand?"
"Yes Sir, arrest Pinchon, and turn him over to your custody."
"You sound like you think something is wrong," said Yates.
"Sir, yes Sir! I am a General. I am in the field, in of all places outside the White House, in Washington, D.C. I have also been ordered to restrain the media from its reporting my actions. And now I am being given conflicting orders, by two of my superiors in the chain of command. In obeying either's order, I am going to be in trouble with the other one. Yes Sir, I think something is wrong."
"Something is wrong! Ishnik is not 'Army,' as we are," said Yates. "We have 'our' duty to the nation, the soldier's duty, to protect the Constitution too. The Constitution says people have the right to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are not supposed to be going around shooting fellow citizens.
"Do what I have ordered. Us Generals sometimes have to make tough decisions. Orders only have to be obeyed, if they are lawful. Ishnik's order wasn't lawful. Don't obey it, do what I have ordered. It's not much consolation, but if you get broken or shot for it, so will I."
"Yes Sir," General Ucclese replied.
Yates hung up the phone, worried! General Jonston had given him a heads-up. He knew too, that Ishnik and Strate, and 'company,' were not pleased with his last conversation with them. ...And they will be furious ...if …when… they find out he has changed the orders to General Ucclese. But he knows that following Secretary Ishnik so closely, he has already gotten into dangerously 'deep water,' that is way over his head. He had been loyal and obeyed orders from Ishnik, even when he had doubts. He had continued to follow even when The Defense Secretary had on occasions gone around him, or kept him conveniently uninformed. Now he realized, that he may have gotten into water so rough that he may drown in it.
General Yates opened his desk drawer and filled the spare chamber of his prized Civil War pistol. He then opened the display case and took one of the pistols out, took its empty chamber out, and replaced it with the loaded one, and then put the pistol in the drawer.
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