The Go-Ahead

APRIL 19TH, 2009
TAMPA, FLORIDA
10:45 PM

Groggy lay awake in bed, thinking. Out the open window he could still hear light music playing on the lawn below, the hardiest of the officers engaging in one last dance before it became too.

He looked beside him and saw Liz, the young College Republican, sleeping peacefully, cradling her head in his right arm, a cherubic look of innocence painted on her face. The irony of the phrase College Republicans always amused him, and this beautiful, petite girl melting into his arms was the embodiment of such hypocrisy.

The Colonel had of course enjoyed his brief liaison with this girl, the warm flesh and tangled limbs of intercourse, as any living being would. But it just brought his mind back to Edith. Carnal relations were one thing, but a romance of the heart was something else entirely. And how he pined for Edith, even with a warm body beside him and the second great adventure of his life before him.

Sooner or later, you'll have to move on, Groggy told himself. And he took what momentary solace he could in the arms of this beautiful girl, running his hands through her gossamer, brown hair, pressing her close to his chest. And the thought that, just twenty-four hours from now, Edith would be the least of his concerns.

APRIL 22ND, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC
10:30 AM

It had been decided. After weeks of planning, the course of war was finally set.

President Obama had done everything he could to avert war, but he couldn't help but be prepared for it. Secretary Gates and several of his generals had tried to convince the President that giving the Russians a "bloody nose". No offensive operations elsewhere, no other provocatory actions - but the liberation of the Russian West Indies was now imperative.

It was a hope, of course, with no certainty attached to it, but America had causus belli in the Caribbean which they lacked elsewhere. And Obama was merely following the footsteps of his predecessors JFK and Reagan and Clinton, who opted for cautious half-measures rather than knock-out blows. After all, something had to be done, but when confronting Russia, it might not be best to go all the way.

"The Russians have been completely unable to reinforce this garrison or impede our movement in any way," Admiral Talleyrand said to the President. "Intelligence from CIA, NSA and our guerilla allies indicate no major troop movements on Palacios within the last two weeks. They remain mostly concentrated around Fort Kurugen and Mesa Verde."

"And not one attempt has been made by the Russians to sortie our ships, our air bases, or any other targets," Secretary Gates added. "Although, there are rumors of Cuban involvement."

"Maybe they're just stupid. Or lazy," Obama said, contemplating the meaning of this. "Or that they don't have any missiles or rockets at all."

Secretary Clinton leaned forward eagerly. "Or, that they don't take us seriously."

Obama looked wearily at his rival-turned-Secretary of State. "You're setting me up, aren't you?" he asked, his voice low and grave.

Clinton shrugged in mock astonishment. "I have no idea what you might mean, Mr. President," she said, struggling to keep her voice at an even tone.

Obama lowered his head into his hands. He closed eyes, thinking of guidance. He'd done everything possible to avert war, but it was rushing towards him like a freight train. There was nothing he could do, and the only thing he could do was get it over with, as quickly and painlessly as possible.

"Alright, you sons of bitches," he said, looking at the assembled brass. "Do it."

At Obama's admission of defeat, the room bristled with scarcely-contained excitement. Secretary Clinton jumped to her feet and pulled out a piece of paper, which she handed eagerly to Admiral Talleyrand. "Pass this along, Admiral," she said, not even trying to hide her excitement. The Admiral walked over to the communications over.

"Richard, send this," the Admiral dictated to a junior officer. "Defense Department to XXII Corps," he read, the officer repeating the message in code through a secure phone line. "Commence offensive operations against RWI immediately."

War had finally begun.