Read Online Power Games: Operation Enduring Unity I by R A Peters - Free Book Online

Somehow though, this all came off as provocative to DC. “Escalations,” that idiot White House staffer called them.
    Pickens had even held a press conference explaining it all. Tried to, at any rate. Never before had he seen such a polarized press corps. They kept shouting him down trying to outdo each other with ever more outlandish accusatory questions.
    He couldn’t even secure the attention of that egotistical dipshit in charge of the FNG force at Camp Blanding. While the attorney general was nominally the commanding officer of the state guard, during times of crisis the senior professional military officer on the scene took over. At least he would return Pickens’ calls, even if he then ignored all the orders merely to contain the paratroopers and try to avoid any further bloodshed.
    Pickens wanted to sack the man so badly and had the authority to (probably), but wouldn’t that create its own set of problems? Would firing the most senior officer willing to stand up to the Feds destroy the Guard’s cohesion? Thereby removing the only real bargaining chip he had, or would those strange military people ignore him and carry on with their business, in effect staging a coup? Would Washington interpret the action as a peace overture or weakness? There were too many damn unknowns and things kept happening way too fast. If only he could have a little time to think!
    Pickens weighed whether to fly out to Blanding and personally oversee the operation or not, when the former governor’s chief of staff interrupted and let himself into the office. It was the first time Pickens had seen a smile on that jowly face all day. Now the staffer laid it on pretty thick.
    “Hey, Picky, I’ve got some good news for a change.” The attorney general bristled at the nickname. For years there wasn’t anything he could do about it since the fat man was an old college roommate and hunting buddy of the governor. Well, he also couldn’t do anything about him now. It was a shame that this prick’s expertise and inside knowledge were needed during this crisis.
    As soon as things settled down, oh would this Bubba be out on his ass fast. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, type of out. The chief of staff assumed Pickens’ smile was because he enjoyed the nickname. He took a seat, unoffered.
    “I just got off the phone with Senator Dimone’s campaign manager. They want to set up shop down here. In Orlando, to be exact. Well, fleeing for his life from the mad dictator or some such craziness is how they’re spinning it. I’ve already chartered a plane to pick him up and promised on your behalf to grant, get this, ‘asylum!’ ” He couldn’t get enough of his own wit.
    “The senator’s staff will be calling any second to hammer out more details. I wanted to be the first to congratulate you.”
    “On what? This just complicates everything even worse. I’m doing all I can to keep things from falling apart here, and now this asshole wants to use the anarchy in the streets to score a few publicity points against the president. He’s one more headache I don’t need.”
    The staffer looked shocked. “I guess…you haven’t had time to think this through. Step back a second. You just got bumped up to the big leagues. That was the governor’s whole plan and you’ve succeeded where he failed. We’re no longer a chess piece in this game between the Washington elites. We’ve picked a side! We’re no longer a prize they both have to compete for; we can tip the scales in the senator’s favor. In anyone’s favor, for that matter. We’re both the audience and judge!”
    He threw up his hands as Pickens just frowned.
    “Think about it. Previously, you had the senator up against a corrupt Congress and tyrannical president but backed by the Supreme Court. The quintessential ‘People’s Champ,’ but before you came along, he was just an idea without a host.”
    “Like a parasite,” chimed Pickens dryly.
    “That’s what I like