Doomsday Warrior 16 - American Overthrow by Ryder Stacy Read Free Book Online

members and citizens of Century City,” Misko said, stroking his long black beard. Aside from being a council member, he was the city’s only functioning rabbi and catered to the Jewish citizenry of the city, of whom there were over a thousand. His black gown stood out as did his long beard and hair, symbols of the Orthodox Jews going back five thousand years.
    “I understand that emotions are running high. And perhaps there is reason for them to.” Misko spoke patiently and with a scholarly air that made most of the audience quiet down at least a little. “This is a highly charged issue. Indeed, the autonomy of each Free City is perhaps the paramount guarantee between us all, a bond, a covenant. Otherwise some city would be marching on another all the time—to get its own ideas, its beliefs in the ascendancy. However,” he paused to let his words ring out. He wanted to have his words be felt on this heated night. “This is not a case of disagreement. There was a coup d’etat. The duly elected government of Pattonville was overthrown. The people had no choice in the matter. I therefore say that we must intervene. We have no choice. To not do so would be to betray our democratic heritage.”
    Cheers and boos rang out and the madness continued for another minute or two before order was restored. Next to speak was Colonel Rath, head of Intelligence. His hawk-nosed face was even more somber than usual, long and drawn, almost white. He spoke with tense tight lips, clearly affected by what had gone on in Pattonville four hundred miles to the north of C.C.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, what we face here is an unprecedented situation. Never in the history of the Free Cities has there been a successful coup. Never has the military taken over lock, stock, and barrel, as it has in this situation. But even worse, if our intel reports are correct and I believe we can vouch for their accuracy, General Hanover used gas to gain control. And he’s planning, through the use of several types of nerve gas he and his science teams have perfected, to begin to take over the other Free Cities. This is military dictatorship, not democracy. In fact we have reason to believe he may have already taken over two or three small cities near Pattonville—test cases, as it were. It’s hard to get a clear picture because all those who enter Pattonville haven’t come back to their cities again, including a C.C. trade mission of a dozen men. Clearly we face a threat, a terrible threat. In my opinion the most pressing challenge since the Great War itself. And it’s from our own kind.” He paused and looked over the crowd.
    “My recommendation is an immediate recon team head up there fast, survey the situation and report back to Council. And I think speed is of the essence. If we delay on this one—there may not be a chance to stop it later. Remember what happened with Hitler? Every day he got stronger. General Hanover is in the same situation. Hanover is a—”
    “Fascist!”
    “Pig!”
    More accolades of anger rang out from around the chamber. Rockson listened with increasing alarm. It didn’t sound good. Ordinarily he would have stood with those who would never interfere with another Free City. But this was different.
    A reporter from the Globe-Gazette sprang to his feet, and shouted, “Rath, we’ve heard rumors circulating around the city that President Langford and his daughter may be captive in Pattonville. Can you comment on that?”
    “We know that Langford was using Pattonville as his home base,” Rath replied dryly. “Whether or not he’s there right now or in what capacity, I’m afraid I can’t tell you. Part of this whole damned mess is, we don’t really know what the hell is going on up there. We know that trading convoys from three different Free Cities headed up there and never came back. That’s what made us start wondering. You tell me . . .” He paused again. “That’s why in my opinion we need immediate intelligence