Apocalypse Austin by David VanDyke & Ryan King

Author:David VanDyke & Ryan King [VanDyke, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Three Kings Publishing
Published: 2015-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

General McAllister was late, and he hated being late. Some might call it a general’s prerogative to keep others waiting, but he’d always found it rude and arrogant to waste his subordinates’ important man-hours. His time might – technically – be more important than theirs, but it seemed bad practice to rub it in.

“Sorry, people,” he said walking into the conference room as men and women in uniform jumped to their feet. “I got held up in Galveston. Please take your seats.”

The people sat as he made his way to the front of the room and took the cup of coffee Sergeant Major Crouch handed him. He then looked at the screen and the briefer in front of him, waving for him to start as he sipped.

The intelligence officer, Colonel Monroe, cleared his throat and brought up a slide, showing overhead surveillance. “Sir, this is open source commercial satellite imagery of the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. What we have seen in the last two days is a giant spike in activity. Other sources of information indicate that the 101st Air Assault Division is there now.”

“Kind of large for a training exercise,” said McAllister.

“Yes, sir. Normally exercises there are no more than brigade level at most due to available maneuver space. The 82nd Airborne is clearly mustering at Bragg and Pope, along with 18th Airborne Corps headquarters and enough airlift for brigade-strength airdrops. Furthermore, II MEF in the Atlantic has also been brought to full readiness, and one of its reinforced Marine brigades appears to be assembling near New Orleans.”

“Amphibious assault?”

“Yes, sir.”

“So now we have three very mobile formations within striking distance of our borders.”

“Yes, sir. Between an amphibious assault along the coast, airborne drops from the 82nd and a deep airmobile penetration by the 101st, they could hit three very widely separated objectives at the same time.”

“What about to the north. Still the same?” McAllister asked.

“Yes, sir. The 4th Mechanized Infantry Division is on alert at Fort Carson and a brigade of the 1st Armored Division and another mechanized brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division are mobilizing in Fort Riley, Kansas. We’ve also gotten intelligence that Striker brigades from Fort Lewis and Fort Drum are on railcars headed to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.”

“How long until they arrive and can deploy?”

“The end of the week,” answered Monroe.

McAllister sighed. “So, by my count we have a heavy division and five heavy brigades on our northern border, and the equivalent of three light divisions on our eastern flank.”

“That’s not all, sir,” said Monroe.

“Oh, by all means, brighten my day.” That brought a few chuckles.

Monroe brought up a slide showing northern Mexico. “There are sixteen Mexican divisions along our southern border. It is uncertain yet if these will only serve to keep the border closed or actually plan offensive action.”

General Clemens snorted. “I can’t imagine the United States would want, or even allow, a foreign power to invade Texas. They’re just there to keep us distracted.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure,” said McAllister.

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