Patricians: Power Politics (2 of 9)

Chapter 36: War Counsel

Sitting down, Henry looked around his private quarters aboard the MSV Alesia. Pictures of Victoria and Julia lined the oak desk. Looking at the pictures, Henry grasped a neural patch cable in one hand. The Muse neural network was built into the Alesia's main structure. Plugging the cable into the neural implant, Henry felt the rush of the digital world dragging him away. Lights leapt across the dark abyss of cyberspace. Each line represented data moving across the digital landscape.

With a thought, Henry moved across the digital world. Approaching a vast gate that prevented information from flowing, Henry observed it for a second. Statues glared from the cybernetic barrier. Henry admired the details of the wall that represented the digital encryption and security protocols. Shield warriors armed with spears lined the wall. Guards represented the automated protocols designed to attack any individual's digital persona that did not have security clearance. Henry sent out his digital security information to the sentries at the door.

Guards stared down with a menacing desire to leap to action. Within a few seconds, the barrier program confirmed clearance and the large stone gate began to move. Light beamed out from the crack in between the two large moving stone doors. Basking in the light, Henry turned his thoughts to the meeting. Light engulfed the man, allowing him to transmit his persona to the NATO leadership's war summit.

Appearing in a room without doors told Henry this digital environment was a secure system. King George and President Woods were already sitting in their leather seats and forming a circle in the center of the room. Flags from the various nations draped the windowless wooden walls of the enclosed room. Sitting next to President Adam Woods was the highest-ranking military official and leader of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Fleet Admiral Kevin Drake. Drake had modernized the U.S. naval forces and seen to the rearmament of all ships with the remarkable MK II devastator rail gun. New battleships in the U.S.'s fleet were classified as Drake-class battleships. Fleet Admiral Drake wore his uniform with pride and covered in commendations and citations.

Drake's most famous victory was during the Terror Wars. During the initial invasion of the Middle East, the battle had given Fleet Admiral Drake the opportunity to shine. American and NATO forces had invaded in the wake of the terrorist attacks on democratic nations. Islamic radicals launched a campaign of terror leading up to the detonation of a nuclear device in Ottawa. The destruction of Canada had galvanized the west. Under Drake's command, the U.S. fleet had managed to break limited naval resistance and coordinate massive naval bombardment during the initial invasion that had reduced American casualties. Deft maneuvers had saved the day.

Sitting next to Fleet Admiral Drake was the Four Star General, Douglas Grant. Grant held the position of Vice Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and had led the entire Terror Wars across the Middle East with tenacity, dedication, and precision. No enemy bastion had stood in the wake of Grant's march through the region. The man held near fanatic levels of loyalty from the troops under his command. After the war, Grant had earned the nickname "Granite" for his resolute and uncompromising style of leadership.

Serving to assist the Vice Chairmen was Command Major Frank Costigan from Boston. Maj. Costigan had served under General Grant as a captain during the Terror Wars. During the long march across the Middle Eastern nations, Cpt. Costigan had earned the nickname "Fearless". Many of the soldiers serving under Cpt. Costigan couldn't fathom how the man had made it through the war alive. Cpt. Costigan had first led his company, and then the division. Combining his success at operations had earned him his Oak Leaf promotion. Now Frank served his old general as his Senior Enlisted Advisor. Henry remembered the man from his time serving in the Terror Wars.