special reaction team to be placed at the disposal of Mr. Ritter. The other carriers will be lifting five rifle companies, a special weapons company and command vehicles. These will be dispersed to the Presidio, to the state guard facility near Sacramento, and to various other points in Northern California, where they will be joined by motorized units from Parks and Davis. I will remain at the Presidio, where I will join Colonel Brownleaf at Command, and where Mr. Ritter will take charge of the demolition team." The Colonel spread his hand across the northern area of California. "All these assignments have been carefully selected to completely neutralize any reaction capability the whiteys might try to throw up. Each of the twenty-two choppers will be released in sufficient time to rendezvous here at Warhole for the 2330 hours liftoff."
Williams smiled and said, "Thank you, Colonel. Swift and concise, that's how I like it, and that's the way I want it to go tonight."
"It will, sir," Horace assured him.
The militia commander, Banniger, was the next man up. Quite young, but all business and obviously very sure of himself, he picked up the battle order precisely where the other man had left it. "Colonel Horace's choppers will begin arriving here at Waxhole at 2330 hours. Oakland Armor will be in embarkation order and we begin loading immediately. By 2330 all twenty-two choppere will be on the ground and receiving. At midnight on the dot and in consonance with command units out of Presidio, Able Company lifts off and proceeds directly to target. Succeeding departures are spaced at two-minute intervals, and the first wave will be clear of Warhol© by 0045 hours How much of this do you want, Mr. Williams?"
"Just take us through Able Company, Sam."
"Yes, sir. Able Company will arrive at the State Guard Central Motor Pool at the Southwest edge of San Francisco—-in the beach area—and land inside the compound. This area will be secured no later than 0030 hours, and there is to be no gunfire whatsoever. The stationkeeping force of whiteys will be quickly and quietly subdued. They will then immediately begin servicing the vehicles which the Department of the Army, has been systematically stacking there since 1997."
General Bogan chuckled and told Danniger, "Thank you, son, for that nice detour around the word 'stealing.' I just saw a communication last week from Governor Raleigh asking what in blazes did the State of California want with all these hundreds of war machines. I'll bet he won't be asking that tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir." lie young militiaman was not to be deterred from Ms report. Soberly he continued. "These minimally-mothballed transport and armored vehicles will be placed on the line with all speed, special priority going to 60 troop carriers, 42 weapons carriers, and four of the 87 jeeps. These specified veMcles must be serviced and on their way to the Warhole no later than 0200 hours. They will travel in traditional military convoy fashion, and they will proceed through the city of San Francisco and into Oakland via the prescribed route. Any civil authorities attempting to either aid oar interfere with this convoy will be discreetly disposed of. The convoy must arrive at the Warhole no later than 0300 hours. Embarkation of the Oakland Rifles will then commence immediately. Meanwhile, the armor brigade will continue servicing the combat vehicles at San Francisco motor pool. This will include 32 of the M-60 tanks, and 57 of the lighter units, including also six armored scout cars for unit commands. All armor will be fully serviced and on the line at 0500 horns, at which time this armored column will depart for rendezvous with regular army elements from Presidio and Mission. Rendezvous point is at the head of Market Street, just below Twin Peaks."
"Very good, Colonel Danniger," Williams complimented the youth. "You keep it just that tight and we'll see a bright tomorrow. Colonel Brownleaf?"
The Presidio
Christina Malala u Lamb Yousafzai