Chapter Six - part six

   At the end of the day things were still very uncertain. People were coming out in large numbers, but there were still large numbers who were refusing to come out. James was just grateful that so far those who wouldn't come out hadn't tried to force anything either. He was hopeful that they were just waiting to see what happened before they did anything. James was also relieved that they had stopped the fighting in the other cities. There wasn't any effort being made to get supplies into those other cities yet, but for now everyone seemed to be tired of fighting. Jeremy had been given orders to relieve James and his current squadron, but James had politely informed Kendrick that he wasn't leaving yet. Kendrick hadn't argued the point. He just made sure James had fuel and kept the supplies flowing in all night.

   The next day James was still in the air, but he was no longer over L.A. by dawn. He and Colonel Phillips had managed to convince other Army units to try the same approach in other cities. James was now covering supply drops in San Diego with yet another squadron under his command and Jeremy had moved the 21st to San Francisco. Major Roberts had resumed command of his squadron and was still over L.A. as the relief efforts expanded. As the day progressed things seemed to be improving. It was still a long way from being back to normal, but the cities were quiet. People were still frightened and many were hiding, but as time passed more and more were coming out for help. By that night James was ready to break off for a while. He needed to rest and he needed a chance to figure out what his next step should be. Nobody else seemed to be ready to take over yet. A little sleep and maybe then he could think straight again.

   The President had watched the developments along the west coast closely. By the end of the first day he was beginning to have some hope that it might work. Late that night and early into the next morning he had his entire staff working to organize and coordinate similar efforts along the east coast. It took them all that next day to get things in place to try and do the same things along the east coast. That was partly due to the fact that the riots had never been allowed them to dig out many places after the winter storm. They had mixed results. General Hodges had used the troops he had selected to go in to regain control at all costs to try this new method. They had tried, but those troops were often too quick to use force at the slightest incident. That often resulted in battles erupting and the relief efforts being stopped short. James hadn't returned to the air. He was now working directly out of the command center at Edwards. James was now coordinating the relief effort along the entire west coast. 

   General Kendrick had been summoned to D.C. and was about to meet with the President at the end of the third day since James had stepped into the center of everything once more. When he walked into the room Kendrick found only the President and General Hodges waiting to meet him. He snapped a sharp salute and after it was returned by both men he smiled. He took the seat they had offered him. Once they were seated the President addressed him. "Pete, would you care to explain how we managed to arrive where we are at in this operation? I am sure Pat would like to hear the story." Peter Kendrick actually laughed before he replied. "Sir, I would be happy to explain what I can." Turning to face General Hodges he grinned as he spoke directly to him. "I have little doubt that you would have me shot for treason if you could, but that is why I did this the way I did. Pat, I have known you since we were both freshly minted 2nd lieutenants from the Academies. You had very little humor even back then and less compassion. Over the years your humor hasn't improved and as for compassion, well I think you killed that off long ago. You are one of the best tactical and strategic thinking men I know, but you have almost no compassion left. You are a cold, battled hardened soldier. Casualties are a fact of war and as long as yours are less than the enemies they are acceptable to you. I wish I hadn't had to go behind your back, but I know you too well. I did what I thought was best and I will face the consequences for my actions."

   Turning back to the President he tried to smile, but failed. "I owe you an apology too, sir. I know you are my commander and I should have come to you, but I couldn't and wouldn't take that risk. Sir, I was afraid of what might happen if we didn't stop that first air strike. If we had intentionally bombed our own forces I think the entire military chain of command might have collapsed. Even if it didn't, how many people would we have had to slaughter before we could have gained control of the major cities? In fact would there have even been anything left of the cities in the end? I made a tactical decision of my own. Sir, we have been watching the situations in this nation and around the world for years. The last few months some of us had formed a network so that we could react to something like this. It was those people who have been working to try and regain control without destroying everything in the process. I assure you that everyone involved was prepared to carry out the strikes and do whatever was required to regain control of our nation. We just weren't willing to do that until we had exhausted every possible way of doing it more peacefully."

   The President nodded when Kendrick was finished. Hodges was about to speak up, but the President held up his hand to silence him. After a moment the President finally spoke again. "Tell me about this Colonel Cooper. I knew that name when I heard it, but I didn't make all the connections until I had his records pulled. I know what the record says now, but I want to know what you say. I want to know why you sent him and what you told him to do." Now Kendrick did smile at the President. He spoke easily this time instead of reluctantly. "I would be happy to do that sir. Colonel Cooper as you already know is one of those born hero's. He never wanted to be a hero and he doesn't try to be a hero. Heck, he doesn't even like it when you tell him he is one. He is a man of honor and a man of compassion. He is also a man of faith sir. That is why I sent him! We had to have someone in charge with enough compassion to risk everything for a stranger and enough honor to do his duty no matter what! Cooper was that man! Sir, unless you meet him and get to know him... well you just won't understand him. All I told him to do was take command of the strike force and try to diffuse the situation. I sent him, because that was all I knew to do. There wasn't anything or anyone except him that I thought had a chance. He was our last chance! Sir, if his efforts had failed he would have done whatever was required to obey his orders and regain control. I sent him knowing that he would do his best to avoid killing, but that he would be willing to kill as many as required to restore order. He was prepared to kill comrades to save his nation or die to save them if they could find a way to save it together. He was the last choice and best choice we had!"

   General Hodges finally had heard enough. He stood up and was almost yelling as he addressed Kendrick. "You actually expect us to believe that some 'Holier than thou' Christian Colonel went in there and worked a miracle? Damn it Pete! Do you honestly expect me to listen to this garbage? I know you are a Christian too, but you never let that silly religious garbage affect your attitude or the performance of our duty before. What the..."  Kendrick had come to his feet and was clearly about to start yelling back when the President stood up and yelled first. "SILENCE, I will have no further outbursts!" He glared at both men until they resumed their seat. Only then did he shake his head and begin to speak without sitting down. "Regardless of what either of you say or think; it seems that one man went in and has done in three days what all of my best generals and advisors couldn't do in almost a month." General Hodges started to speak but was cut off again. "Oh I know he hasn't succeeded at restoring order yet! But Pat, you have to admit that he has managed to make a start. I don't know how he does what he does, but I do know that according to his records he does almost seem to be a miracle worker." He was silent for a moment before turning back to face Kendrick.

   "Peter, I want you to have Colonel Cooper reporting directly to me from now on. I think..." Once more General Hodges came to his feet and raised his voice, though he didn't yell this time. "Now wait just a minute sir! I don't..." The President cut him off and he did yell. "I don't care Pat! I will not wait! You are relieved of your command!!! Now get out and leave me to work this mess out!" He stood glaring at Hodges until he left the room. Then he turned to Kendrick again. "Well, it seems I am in need of a Joint Chief. As I was saying before I want Cooper reporting directly to me; and as for you...? We will talk about your future later, but for now you have just become my temporary Joint Chief. I suggest you get to work. You can use the office assigned for Air Force command until we can talk again.  Send my secretary in as you leave and stay available. I may have need of you shortly; I have more work to do myself for now." That was the end of the conversation and the meeting.  General Kendrick did as instructed. He was both stunned and relieved. Stunned by what had happened and relieved that he wasn't facing a court martial.