MacArthur's Freehold

Chapter 68

Chapter 68 -- RWONKZPNMGVXBRQ

Mark Anthony could not ever remember being actually fearful of anything to the point of having a physically sickening dread. But he felt it now, and it was not only because of the consequences if this meeting went wrong. He knew he was right, a half dozen subordinate general officers agreed with him, and he was fairly certain James Talley agreed with him. He knew the man fairly well already, and had combed his records looking for any clue that he would fail to do what he should.

But what he should do was technically illegal at best and treason if anyone bothered to bring that charge. Technically. And this government would seize any technicality to further its ends, and if one was not available it would simply ignore the constitution and the law. As it had already been doing for years, thus bringing about this crisis.

He was expected to be meeting with General Talley to set up a plan for imposing martial law on the country, and so he was. He had called Talley the previous evening to let him know he wanted to meet. Talley was surprised, as the chairman's job was as an adviser to the president and the Secretary of Defense. However, being told that Anthony was representing the president's task force dealing with the current unrest, he assumed it was something to do with that.

They were at the moment driving on the Beltway in Anthony's personal car, which he never allowed into the hands of anyone except his personal mechanic, a longtime friends and retired officer who had opened a garage in the area, mostly as a hobby, providing special service to his friends. He also inspected the car regularly, inside and out, for surveillance or tracking devices.

"James, this is a little unusual," Anthony said "but we're in an unusual situation."

"That's putting it mildly" said Talley.

"We agree about that, at least." Anthony said. "There's no other way to tell you this, so I'll get right to it. I'm authorized to tell you, since you'll be the one who gets tagged."

Without moving his head he saw, in his peripheral vision, Talley looking over and then quickly back to the front.

"At our meeting yesterday evening the subject martial law came up." he said, this time turning briefly to get Talley's reaction. The look was what he expected. The response was what he had hoped for.

"Insanity" he said.

"I'm glad we're on the same page." Anthony said. "How do you plan to deal with it if it happens? Keeping in mind that if they do, and you and I won't go along they'll fire us and appoint a new Army chief and Joint Chiefs chief until they get one who will."

"One who'll try, you mean." Talley said. "I would like to think they'd run out of generals first, but I'm sure they would find one."

"Exactly. And you and I know it would be a disaster no matter who tried it."

"Of course" Talley said. "First, it can't be done. Three or four, five times the army we have couldn't do it. Beyond locking down most of the cities."

"And that's what they don't understand." Anthony said. "The threat is coming from out there."

He waved a hand toward the window.

"Flyover country, they call it. Out there in the small cities and towns, out in the country farms - that's where this is coming from. I suspect it's been out there, smoldering in dozens, hundreds of places, for quite a while now. It appears that something has happened to merge all those little brush fires into a firestorm."

"In you position you must privy to information I don't have" Talley said. "If they're talking about martial law. Who is they? Does it include the Secretary of Defense? He's the one I take orders from."

"It does" said Anthony. "Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, State. And not a one of them, or for that matter all of them collectively, is equipped to deal with this."

"How would you deal with it?" Talley asked.

"I wouldn't have gotten into this situation, of course, and neither would you" Anthony said. "And they're not going to the one thing that can save them, and the country."

"What is that?"

"You've seen the letters that were distributed by the People's Liberation Army. The White House got a unique copy, with information allowing them to communicate with the PLA. There was a phone call to the president, in which they stated their demands. Absolutely non-negotiable demands.

"They were quite simple, actually. A repeal of all unconstitutional laws - which is probably about ninety percent of the federal code - and a refinement of the Bill of Rights, to ensure it can not be misinterpreted again. And a release of political prisoners, but that's rather trivial by comparison. What they want is nothing less than returning the country to wherever it was, whenever you like, pre-Civil War, pre-Depression, you get the idea."

"I'm guessing we're off the record" said Talley.

"That's why we're driving around the Beltway in my car. What is said here by either of us goes no further."

"Thanks." said Talley. "I would have assumed so, but you know what happens when you assume. What you're describing is where we would be if the Constitution had not been twisted and perverted for about, at least a hundred years. Some of the rot, both political and societal, goes back even further."

"I take it you agree with my assessment of the government, at least." Anthony said.

"Completely."

"What would you do, I should say, what will you do? It is going to happen. I suspect that by the time we get back to our offices, the news will be full of more bombings, more sabotage of infrastructure, probably more assassinations. My next meeting will probably end with orders to the Secretary of Defense to impose martial law.

"Aside from the fact that it is impossible to do what they envision, it's the wrong thing to do. And it may be the end of the United States, at least as the republic as founded, and probably as a single entity. A breakup is not only possible, but probable."

"You're right" said Talley. "You and I, as military officers, swore an oath to the Constitution. Of course, the president and members of congress do as well, to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. When the domestic enemy is one bound by the oath, for me it's a matter of knowing who the enemy is."

"So we defend the constitution against the president and congress?"

"Yes."

"In the little time you've had" Anthony said "have you formed any ideas about how to do it?"

"No. I haven't."

"When the order comes from the President, the Secretary of Defense will pass it on to you. Then what? As I said, if you and I quit, they'll eventually find one who'll do the job. Or try. And whoever it is will be so incompetent it will be even worse. At that point, I believe, the Republic is over."

"Do you have a plan?" Talley asked.

"There's only one way to do it." said Anthony. "The men we need are already on board - the key commanders. If you have to give operational orders they'll be carried out, but I believe there will be no need. We can stop it at the top."

"Meaning you've gone behind my back." said Talley.

"No sense in coming to you unless I knew they would support it. I couldn't be sure of you until I had talked with some of them."

"We're in a bad situation" Talley said. "You were right - I'm not sure what I would have done."