Retribution (Soldier Up - Book Five 5) by Steven Linde Read Free Book Online Page B

on a huge behemoth of an armored train from Washington.  Then the subsequent contact with the President via shortwave radio that Colonel Lambert had brought with him.  The status quo had changed dramatically with civilian leadership being added back into the equation.  The President had been briefed on Colonel Magnus and his Army and what the Colonel’s plans were; however those plans were taking a backseat momentarily until one General John Clayton, formerly of US Army 1 st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta talked to the leadership about his.  SFC Harris and General Clayton were longtime friends and he himself was a former member of Delta.  He was also a very good friend of Sergeant Major Dognillo whom he had met for drinks at Fort Bragg a few months before the event. 
    SFC Harris had tried to meet General Clayton when he first arrived at JFK Center, but General Moon had blocked all of his attempts at interjecting himself into General Clayton’s visit.  For his part General Clayton was unaware that SFC Harris, his old teammate, was even at Bragg right now.  SFC Harris, being the clever man that he was, was able to get a copy of General Moon’s itinerary from a mutual friend.  SCF Harris planned out an interception point per the itinerary at lunch when they left General Moon’s office to head to the mess hall to eat with the troops.  General Clayton loved to eat with his soldiers so all SFC Harris needed to do was to get into the mess hall before them and get a table near the VIP section and be in plain sight of the generals. That should do it.
    SFC Harris arrived at the mess hall fifteen minutes prior to the General’s arrival, he wanted it to appear as normal as possible.  The mess hall had been notified earlier of the General’s arrival and set up the VIP section.  It was easy to get a seat near it. Soldiers generally speaking felt no need to associate or even be seen by General officers.  SFC Harris took a seat two tables away from where they would sit and took his time eating his lunch.  Right on time the two officers entered the facility and someone called “Atten- HUT!” and everyone jumped to attention.  General Moon responded “As you were.” And everyone sat down and continued eating their meal.
    The two officers didn’t have to wait in line, but John Clayton wasn’t about to cut in front of the soldiers. He wasn’t that kind of officer they went to the end of the line and waited their turn.  Fortunately for SFC Harris he was seated right next to the line and General Clayton wouldn’t be able to miss him.  As the two officers inched closer and closer to where SFC Harris was sitting, SFC Harris acted as though he was lost in thought, not noticing the two officers nearly standing next to him.
    “Romeo?” a stunned Brigadier General exclaimed.
    SFC Harris looked up from his meal, “John! Excuse me! General Sir!” SFC Harris was smiling at seeing his friend.  SFC Harris stood and the two men that hadn’t seen each other in years shook hands.  General Moon wasn’t pleased.  General Clayton got out of line to talk with SFC Harris. “How the hell have you been Romeo?” General Clayton asked.  “It’s damn good to see you.”
    “It’s good to see you too Sir,” SFC Harris said.  “Been a long time. How are Mel and the kids?”
    “Please call me John; we’ve been through too much shit together.” John sighed for a moment. “Mel passed away a few months past from cancer.”
    SFC Harris looked touched for a moment. “I’m sorry John. I liked Mel a lot she was a wonderful woman.  How about the kids?”
    “Kids are good; both in high school back at Camp Parks,” replied John.
    SFC Harris had heard the story recently about Camp Parks back near Hayward, California. It was an oasis in the middle of all of this.  SFC Harris decided to jump right into it. “What do you think about this whole Colonel Magnus fiasco and his Army marching on Washington?”
    General