The Ajax Protocol

CHAPTER 36

The next day General Westlake and Senator Martinez were having drinks in the Senator's club in Washington. The club was designed for private conversations, with discrete groupings of high-back chairs and low tables. The politicians, lobbyists and money men all needed a place that was private and convenient to the Capitol building. If you had the money, the power and the connections, you might be invited to join.

"What the hell happened?" Martinez said. "How did they get away?"

"Someone tipped them off," Westlake said. "The place was locked down and no one was there. They chartered a plane to a private island in the Caribbean," Westlake picked up a glass of single malt and took a long drink. "I had the pilot taken into custody."

"Those people are a real pain in the ass. They know too much."

"I've arranged for a team to eliminate them. They'll go in tomorrow night."

"Good."

Westlake said, "Edmonds is an idiot."

"It wasn't Edmonds' fault," Martinez said. "He's been a good boy. He's doing exactly what we want him to do."

"And he'd better continue to do it, if he knows what's good for him."

"He wants to be President."

"He can be President," Westlake said. "We need a figurehead."

"There's still Rice," Martinez said. "Still alive."

"That is one tough son of a bitch," Westlake said. "He'll have an unfortunate relapse when it's time to make Edmonds official. Which will be soon."

Martinez said, "What is your assessment of cooperation from local commanders once we begin?"

Westlake toyed with his drink. "I've thought about that a lot. In the beginning it won't be a problem. They'll be responding to tactical situations on the ground, not thinking about national implications. That's not their job. They're trained to follow orders, and they will. Morgan is with us."

General Jeffrey Morgan commanded NORTHCOM, the Northern Army Command. All Army troops in North America were under his jurisdiction. They would be deployed as he saw fit.

"What about after, when the initial rioting has died down?"

"The key to winning the junior officers over is to convince them that they're dealing with an ongoing violent revolution, an attempt to overthrow the government."

"There could be some that see through what is happening."

"If any of them make trouble they'll be relieved of command," Westlake said. "They've all sworn an oath to protect the Constitution and the President, and they'll be acting under Presidential orders. Refusal to follow orders is a court-martial offense."

Westlake emptied his glass and signaled for another round. "I don't think it's going to be much of a problem," he said. "In fact, the civilians will probably solve it for us."

"What do you mean?"

"The diehards aren't going to turn in their guns no matter what we say," Westlake said. "Enough of them will think they can take on the Army with their hunting rifles to give us plenty of incidents we can use to prove someone is inciting revolution."

The drinks came. Westlake picked up his glass.

"The joint exercise with Homeland Security is set. We'll begin the operation in a week."