Alex asked Elena and Andrade if they had their passports and enough false identification with them to get them into Europe if necessary. Elena indicated that the suitcase with all their intelligence gear was still in custody of the Seals. Alex sent a message to the Seal team second in command, to bring that suitcase to the residence, and give it to Elena.
Alex excused everyone, but told Elena and Andrade to go to the annex and buy some clothes. Jeffers said he was going down to the base command center to start calling his satellite offices so he could set up the covert network.
Alex asked Curt to go with him to help him with the communications network he had discussed earlier with Jeffers.
“Oh, and Ted, set up a permanent office for yourself at the command center. Curt get Jeffers a staff car, and credit card for the base as well.”
“Okay Dad.”
Before Elena and Andrade left she asked if she could talk privately with Alex.
“Have a seat, what’s on your mind Elena?”
“General Hanken, in such a short time I have come to admire you for so many reasons I can’t list them all. But Andrade and I have a big favor to ask. We want to know if we could be married before we begin our assignments?”
“Andrade, you are in agreement with this?” Alex asked.
“Yes General, I love her. If we are to give our lives in the line of duty, we want it to be as husband and wife.”
Alex asked them to excuse him for just a minute or two. When he returned, Sandi was right behind him as he reentered his office.
“So, you two want to get married?”
“Yes, but Sandi, just a simple ceremony, two witnesses, and a minister,” Elena tried to downplay.
“You know what, with everything that has been going on, the terror, the tension, the uncertainty; I think we need a party. This is the perfect excuse to have one. I will handle all of the arrangements, Alex how soon?” Sandi asked.
“I would say we should plan on no more than two weeks out.”
“There, it’s all set, two weeks from this Saturday. I will arrange for the base chapel to be set aside,” Sandi said.
“How can I ever repay you for your kindness?”
“Elena, remember, we have a deal, that’s all I ask.”
“General, we will live up to that agreement, and thank you,” Andrade said shaking Alex’s hand.
Alex had logistics on his mind. He needed to find out who was in control of treasury operations, if there was continuity to it? Had Torrance interrupted the flow of cash to the armed services in any way that would inhibit payroll activities or general operations? Staff, he needed to add staff to his headquarters, the tempo was definitely going to pick up.
He decided he would first call the Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel headquarters to check on payroll processing and whether or not Torrance or his representatives had contacted their offices. The Army and Air Force personnel center directors indicated that there had been no disruption to date and they already inquired at Treasury and were told there would be no interruption in funding military payroll. The Navy’s director said that the Asst. Secretary of the Treasury contacted him. They were considering cutting the payroll allowance to account for the Pacific fleet being transferred to General Hanken’s control. Alex asked for the man’s name, and was told his name was Albert Martin. Alex urged all of the personnel directors to remain loyal to him, and do their jobs as always, if any problems arise to call him immediately.
Alex placed a call to Albert Martin. Over a thirty minute discussion Alex convinced him that normal treasury operations should be maintained, otherwise he would consider him as part of the conspirator group. Alex contacted the US mints in Denver and San Francisco and spoke with the directors of each facility. He inquired as to their printing capacity, if the need should arise, and was assured they had the ability to print as much paper money as he would direct them to print. Alex warned them under no circumstances were they to transfer any bullion out of the mints unless the order came directly from him. Both directors were relieved to hear that and suggested they get on a conference call with the Federal Reserve Districts to bring them on board as well. Alex went one step further; why not call the Board of Governors?
They all agreed. The call was made and the Board of Governors scrambled to get everyone in on the call. Alex stated to all on the call that he was in opposition to Admiral Torrance, but they couldn’t allow an internal dispute to bring the country to its knees financially. All Treasury and Federal Reserve activities must be maintained at a business as usual pace, unless circumstances warranted otherwise. All the Governors of the twelve districts of the Federal Reserve agreed they were opposed to Admiral Torrance and would seek to stabilize the financial system of the U.S. to avoid a panic. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve was in the Mount Weather shelter and unable to speak to the banks and general public on this topic. Alex said he wanted each of them to get in touch with the news media, and arrange immediate interviews across the nation. They all agreed and it eventually set off a flurry of appearances by the Governors of the Fed pledging to the American people that their money was safe, the economy is sound, industry was working, and that General Hanken had assured them the country was safe from outside harm. Over the coming weeks the American people would come to know more and more about Alex, and how important he was to the nation’s future, and it would start that very night with Admiral Torrance’s state of the union speech.
Ted Jeffers came into Alex’s office and sat down.
“Alex, I now have Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle regional offices under my control. That’s the west, in the Midwest; I have Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, in the southwest; I have Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. I spoke with several of my senior people at DC headquarters about thirty minutes ago, Cray has already come in and announced my replacement, and Torrance will verify that tonight in his speech. Every agent said they will work undercover to get these bastards and see them all hang. They said to tell you that they can be counted on to give their lives if necessary. Curt is fantastic, he’s setting up an incredible network for me and my people to communicate with each other on a worldwide network. Elena and Andrade can use it wherever they are in the world.”
“Ted, you must be very proud of your people.”
“You know what Alex, I am, and you should know there was no hesitation on anybody’s part.”
Chapter 6
Torrance Addresses the Nation
Alex busied himself calling facilities and bases to see how things were progressing with the consolidation activities. The naval units were set. Admiral Hanover had a firm control over all the Pacific fleet forces. The Air Force units were ready, all base commanders were in their locations, and fighter and bomber squadrons were on standby alert. The Army units, particularly the mechanized artillery and tank battalions, were still not positioned in the Midwest to Alex’s satisfaction. He urged the three Generals who commanded those units to hasten the pace. The western United States and Pacific coast combined forces were aligned and combat ready. Alex set a weekly conference call for all unit commanders to discuss any issues that may have arisen, but reminded all of them that he was on call 24/7 for any emergency issues.
All the residence people including Elena and Andrade were on hand for the nationally broadcast speech by Torrance