Part 13 (1/2)

Western Currency Facility, Bureau of Engraving, Fort Worth, Texas It was early day with the sun just beginning to peek over the trees in the east. A plainclothed Schmidt and a uniformed Pendergast exchanged bright smiles as a horde of workers almost flew from every entrance to the WCF.

”I knew it would work, sir. One little bomb threat and they are scurrying, guards and all.”

”Top, you told them it was an anthrax bomb. That's not little.”

The first sergeant shrugged. ”So I lied? f.u.c.k 'em...sir.”

Schmidt said nothing further as he strained his ears for the expected sound. Soon enough-mere minutes, actually-it came; a horde of sirens from every direction. Almost instantly the area around the WCF seemed filled with police cars, forcing their way slowly through the ma.s.s of displaced workers. There were Fort Worth Police; Dallas, too. Along came county sheriffs, a bomb squad, and even a few EMS ambulances. Every vehicle carried members of Company A, 144th Infantry. Infantry.

Down on the street by the main entrance Captain James-in a borrowed Fort Worth Police uniform-spoke into a microphone in ”his” squad car. ”Attention. Attention. This is a police emergency. Clear away from the building. Clear away from the building. Uniformed officers will a.s.sist you. Report to the nearest uniformed officer. Clear away from the building.”

He took a deep breath, a nervous breath-truth be told, and continued. ”All Bureau of Engraving security personnel come to this location. We will need you to help control the workers. I repeat, WCF guards report to this location.”

While James was speaking two more police cars, one from Dallas and another bearing markings of the sheriff's department for the county, pulled up behind him. Four uniformed officers emerged from each.

Even as the police vehicles rolled to a stop uniformed and a few plainclothed guards from the Mint began gravitating toward James' car. Climbing to the roof, he spoke to them calmly, much more calmly than he felt, while waiting for the rest to arrive.

From over the police radio came the code word ”Avalanche,” repeated several times: the guards to the side with the rounded extension were under control. James nodded with satisfaction.

”Was anyone left behind in the building?” James asked.

”No, sir,” said an elderly, potbellied guard, looking up. ”We have procedures for this.” The guard looked around, counting heads. ”Everyone's here, sir.”

James heard the police radio sound, in turn, ”Typhoon” and ”Hurricane.” The guards to the other sides were secured.

”Very good,” said James, mostly to himself. His head gave a slight nod in the direction of the eleven ”policemen” around him. Instantly eleven guns were drawn from eleven holsters.

”Gentlemen,” said James to the a.s.sembled guards, ”I invite and require you to surrender in the name of liberty, Texas, and-G.o.d bless her!-Governor Juanita Seguin.”

Three or four guards looked as if they might resist, glaring up at James. Yet, in the main, most of them were as annoyed with Was.h.i.+ngton as anyone in the state, or perhaps even more so. Glancing around at their fellows who were obviously pleased, those guards who might have resisted decided that discretion was, after all, the better part of valor.

As the guards dropped their pistols, the Fort Worth Bomb Squad, also known as Second Squad, Third Platoon, A Company, entered the building.

Was.h.i.+ngton, DC

”That b.i.t.c.h has done what what?”

Vega was as furious as her President. Her rage punctuated every syllable she spoke. ”She did it, Willi. Her b.a.s.t.a.r.ds took over the Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth. And they did it without a shot being fired. Reports are still...umm... fragmentary. But there's no doubt they've taken over the building.”

McCreavy burst into the Oval Office. ”Willi, we have a situation here. Fort Hood, Fort Bliss and even Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, are being surrounded by fully armed units of the Texas National Guard. They moved soldiers up in private vehicles while half our troops were leaving for home after their morning physical training. Then they came out, arrested the MPs at the gates and declared the posts closed. Heavy forces are moving up to reinforce the ones who came first.”

Vega's cell phone began to ring. She answered it, flas.h.i.+ng Rottemeyer a semi-apologetic look. As she listened her face visibly whitened. ”My G.o.d,” was all she could manage to say in return.

As Vega disconnected her phone, she turned uncomprehending eyes at Rottemeyer. ”I don't understand, Willi. It isn't supposed to be like this.”

”For G.o.d's sake what what has happened, Jesse?” has happened, Jesse?”

”They're arresting all of our people down there. Everyone. EPA. Surgeon General's Office. IRS. FBI. U.S. Attorneys. Everyone.”

Again Vega's cellphone buzzed. Her face grew yet more ashen. ”Willi...the two senators from Texas...and they apparently have some support from elsewhere...have introduced a motion in the Senate to ask the House of Representatives to impeach you.”

Austin, Texas

Sweating despite the season, a remarkably animated and excited Nagy spoke into a telephone in the governor's office. ”That's right, Captain. I want every federal agent in the state under arrest before tomorrow morning. Every single one of them. No, I don't care about charging them, not yet. Just get them behind some wire. What if some escape? Right... good question. Let me think...ummm...okay, just let them go. The important thing is to restrict their freedom here. If they are in Oklahoma, there's not much they can do in Texas.”

All around the office couriers walked briskly to and fro, bringing news of accomplishments, and occasional setbacks. One such placed a file folder in front of the governor. Busy preparing to address the state legislature, the governor simply shrugged and said, ”Later.”

Outside of the governor's office, the air at the capitol building was tense beyond anything known in the history of Texas since they had fought for independence from Mexico in the 1830s. Even secession in 1861 had not brought with it the sense of sheer imminence imminence that the Seguin government's moves had. Then, like many in the seceding Southlands, Texans had thought their successful secession a ”sure thing,” an accomplished fact. That illusion had been blasted in the American Civil War. Now, however, few maintained any illusions that rea.s.serting a measure of state sovereignty was more than a forlorn hope. Yet, each man and woman asked themselves, ”What else can we do but try?” that the Seguin government's moves had. Then, like many in the seceding Southlands, Texans had thought their successful secession a ”sure thing,” an accomplished fact. That illusion had been blasted in the American Civil War. Now, however, few maintained any illusions that rea.s.serting a measure of state sovereignty was more than a forlorn hope. Yet, each man and woman asked themselves, ”What else can we do but try?”

Still preparing her speech, the governor continued to pay little notice to the comings and goings of those around her. An occasional voice called out the name of an arrestee, which name the governor subconsciously filed away.

One name, however, did get her attention. Juanita heard, ”San Antonio City Police caught Harold Forsythe trying to get a flight out of the state in company with his 'legal advisor.' Our erstwhile 'Commissioner for the State of Texas' was dressed in drag. 'Kind of tastefully,' ” said the arresting officer. At the name, Forsythe, Juanita immediately took notice.

Even as Nagy said, ”Put the shark and the Kommissar on the flight,” Juanita countermanded, ”That one, Forsythe, I want brought to me. Before we let him go I want to give him a message.” one, Forsythe, I want brought to me. Before we let him go I want to give him a message.”

At that moment Schmidt, returned from Fort Worth by helicopter, burst in. ”We've got it, Juani, we've got it.”

The room erupted in cheers.

”We took it intact, too. Everything we need for months of operation: presses, paper, ink; the works works! A bunch of the folks that work there-most of them, in fact-agreed to stay on provided we paid them their regular wage.”

Ralph Minden spoke up, ”That's a weapon in our hands, Governor. Whatever Was.h.i.+ngton decides to do, they'll do it with the specters of runaway inflation or economic stagnation looking over their shoulders.”