Chapter 52

"Let's get this all sorted out then, after we win the vote, things can move quickly."

Nicholas Salter was confident that things would go his way. He had the inner cabinet around him and a number of civil servants and private secretaries. They were there to plan an assault to regain the area in which the oil had been found. There had not been any, large scale military action since the meteors struck over a hundred years before.

"We need to send a large force. The world must know that the OWG cannot be usurped. A display of our strength is what is needed." Salter was warming to his theme.

"Take a note." He said to no one in particular and a number of pens and pads were produced.

"I want photographers and reporters there. A film unit, too I think. They will, of course, show positive pictures of the soldiers. Happy men, big piles of guns, Generals leaning over a map, you know the sort of thing."

"How many will we send?" Sven was always all about the numbers.

"A thousand would be sufficient." Charles Davies was keeping a sense of perspective.

"No, 5,000. A proper amount. There will be rows and rows of them, vast camps, better for the photographs. Right, I'll send some generals too. Patrick, Giles and Pierre. They are always wanting some sort of war and are the most senior. That will keep them happy."

This last pronouncement was met by silence.

"Do we need three generals? James Rutherford could envisage a battle for supremacy.

"As I say they are the most senior. I can't pick one without upsetting the other two."

Salter's answer seemed most reasonable.

"Alright. Look at the largest concentrations of soldiers and what they are guarding. Can their numbers be reduced temporarily without risking security? If the answer is yes then we move those men to South America. Alistair, talk to McBride in logistics and see about shipping."

Much of the talk was about what would be their magnificent triumph. Salter was even thinking about making the trip to South America once the fighting was over. He could then be photographed and filmed congratulating the army and visiting anyone who was injured. Then again it was very hot there and all types of insects and reptiles could be found.

Nicholas Salter talked himself into and then out of a trip to the battle ground. Dennis Parisi was not so squeamish about the conditions and offered to go on behalf of the inner cabinet. Salter stared at his colleague with a, tight lipped grin.

"Thank you, Dennis, that will not be necessary." No one was going to steal his thunder.

More details were discussed and the minions would be sent away to take care of most of the arrangements. The ministers toasted themselves with a glass of brandy before adjourning to their own offices.

"Excuse me sir." Salter's private secretary approached his master cautiously. "Might I make a suggestion?"

The look that greeted him was the blank stare. Salter's most dangerous expression. A sort of calm before the storm. He gave a tiny nod.

"I think it would be a good idea to send General Leon Markov. He is more hands on than the other generals. He will be able to pass their orders along to the other ranks."

The head of the inner cabinet remained frozen as he considered the remark. Was it insubordination to amend his plans? Was Markov a sensible addition to the campaign?

"Yes, send him too."

It would not hurt to have a man there who was serious about his military career. The generals he had chosen were desk bound for the most part. They did the occasional inspection of troops and signed off on orders which were suggested by the lower ranks. What did they really know about waging war? Oh well, Markov would be there to sort things out. That was a good idea of his to send him as well.

~~~

It had not taken long for the plans to send a force to South America to be enacted. Everything had been more or less arranged before the government vote had taken place. Troops were being mobilised from all corners of the world. The OWG wanted to send a substantial army to the oil fields to show their might.

It had been a complicated exercise. The government did not want to remove large amounts of soldiers from key areas. They had to maintain order and needed the army in certain places. They had been forced to take a few from dozens of places and then ship them to the port nearest to their objective. Once assembled they could be given assignments before being sent into battle.

It would be a rather ramshackle army but they were confident of victory. The opponents that they would be fighting had few weapons, no training and no real leadership. It was hoped that, after seeing what they were facing, they would surrender. The leaders of the insurrection would be executed and the oil secured.

The war could not start until the troops were in place. Ships were collecting men from around the world and then heading for what had been Venezuela. Generals were being flown from their base to the battleground ready to oversee the operation. They set off with cheery waves as if they were going on holiday.

The tropical climate and lack of infrastructure came as a shock to many of the men who arrived in South America. They had, mostly, been guarding government buildings and industries in civilised or urban areas. They found themselves on the edge of a jungle with only the very basic amenities.

The soldiers were mainly one of two types. Those who hated being in the foreign environment with all its privations. Those who couldn't wait for the battle to start. All of them were discovering that going to war was not at all exciting. It was a life of extremes. They were either going through rigorous drills or sat around with nothing to do.

Ryan was the head of a specialist unit so he and his men had not been ordered to join the attacking force. He was extremely happy about that. He had been, reluctantly, involved in one massacre on behalf of the OWG and he did not want to repeat the experience. He had seen a number of the orders being circulated and had told Dan and the others what he knew.

"They are sending 5,000 armed men to take an area from about 300 locals."

Dan agreed that it seemed crazy. It was not about the battle which was to come it was propaganda. There would be television coverage showing the mass of soldiers and their equipment. Photographs would appear in the newspapers as well.

The images would be carefully chosen. Soldiers in full kit proud and determined. Soldiers relaxing wearing broad smiles. Soldiers eating hearty meals. And eventually the cowering rebels awaiting their fate. Once it was all over medals would be awarded and added to the chests of the generals who had barely got their hands dirty.

"How long will it take to get them all there?" Dan asked. Ryan thought it would be another three weeks before all the troops would be in place and given orders.

That seemed remarkably quick, but Eric said he was sure that the transports had started well before the government vote.

"Salter has got it all wrapped up. His cronies had primed everyone, so he knew the vote would go his way. Well, for the time being he has it his way."

"I haven't seen anything in the newspaper about a war." Phyllis had joined the discussion. "I think that people would like to know what is going on. The families of the soldiers definitely would."

The OWG paper was full of statistics and propaganda. There was the occasional light hearted piece or a photo of happy workers, but nothing that anybody, particularly in the labour zone, was even vaguely interested in.

"The OWG control all the news, but they are not very good at it. They should make it more interesting. More pictures, maybe a cartoon strip, things like that." Dan was thinking about the variety of newspapers on his old world. Some of the sensational tabloid headlines would cause apoplexy here. "Eric, why don't you suggest that they let me edit the paper."

"Because I want to stay in the government." He drily responded.

The exchange got Dan thinking about newspapers. Everything in his world was digital. Photos and news whizzing around the world in moments. Apart from the fact that the OWG censored what was printed, they had to wait to find out what was happening, too.

The group of friends would not have to wait for news of the war like the rest of the population. Ryan and Eric knew what was going on and would give updates on a regular basis. The rest of this strange world carried on without knowing about the drama unfolding in South America.