Retribution (Soldier Up - Book Five 5) (16 page)

The Major General’s Command Post received reports that his forward element near Fredericks had spotted an armor column consisting of Abrams, Bradley’s, M113s and M114s, as well as several armored Humvees.  There was also a follow-on convoy behind that one with several M-35 2.5 ton trucks pulling 155mm field pieces and troops. 
Where the hell did the armor come from?
MG Boney wondered. This was a real problem.  The armor would wreak havoc through the 28
th
ID, there would be no happy endings here, and where did the hell did Magnus get armor?

              Within twenty-four hours the armor and accompanying soldiers and equipment had set up north along the outskirts of Fredericks, where MG Boney planned to make his final stand.  Then at 0300 MG Boney was notified that several of the scout units had not reported in and were presumed KIA or captured.  If that were true Magnus could bring the full force of his Army on the 28
th
and they would be obliterated.  MG Boney knew Magnus well enough that he would think the 28
th
full of traitors would want the entire division eliminated, right down to the last man and woman.

              At 0545 a report from the LPOP was sent to the General’s CP that there was a Humvee here with a Sergeant Major Valliant from the 82
nd
Airborne. He said he was here to save the 28
th
’s collective asses.  Major General Boney was very familiar with Sergeant Major Valliant and had served with him in Germany.  MG Boney sent word to let him pass, if anything this would be interesting.  Within minutes a Humvee pulled up to the CP, MG Boney was out in front waiting for his old friend, and out of the Humvee popped one Sergeant Major Valliant, “I think you missed a turn off a ways back for Bragg?” MG Boney said.

              Sergeant Major Valliant looked around, “Excuse me? Are you talking to me? You old goat.” 

              Major General Boney laughed, “It’s good to see you.” The two men shook hands and entered the General’s CP.

              “I’m here to tell you right now we aren’t going to surrender,” Major General Boney told the Sergeant Major.

              The comment caught Sergeant Major Valliant off guard. “What and who would you be surrendering to?”

              “Magnus of course, “The General said.

              “I wouldn’t blame you; I wouldn’t surrender to the bastard either,” Sergeant Major Valliant replied.

              It was General Boney’s turn to be confused, “Aren’t you from Magnus?”

              “Oh, hell no! I’m the leading element of the 3
rd
Infantry Regiment and the entire 82
nd
Division, which is sitting in D.C. right now.  You weren’t even factored in here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy as a chipmunk with a mouth full of nuts to see you,” Sergeant Major Valliant said.

              “So, I can’t surrender and be taken back to D.C. to sit this one out?”  Major General Boney said, smiling.

              “I’m sorry sir, nope.”

              “You’re aware that Magnus is right on my tail don’t you? Our asses are hanging in the wind and he can chop them off anytime he wants, even with your armor, and by the way where did you get it?”

              “11
th
ACR.”

              “Out of Fort Irwin?”

              “Yup!”

              “How did it get here?”

              “C-17s.”

              “Damn it Sergeant Major can you be more informative, please.”

              Sergeant Major Valliant laughed, “Well sir, let me give you a quick rundown.  But before I do that, can you send runners out to your troops not to shoot the poor soldiers that will be dropping out of the sky in the next thirty minutes.”

              Once again, Major General Boney was caught by surprise. He waved to the Sergeant Major to tell him what was going on, “The entire 184
th
Infantry Regiment – Airborne will be executing a combat jump into the area in thirty minutes.”

              “I’m sorry I really don’t understand how that is possible?” MG Boney asked.

              For ten minutes Sergeant Major Valliant gave a very brief rundown on what had happened on the West Coast, and what was about to happen.  “I’ll be damned.” MG Boney stated.  He called to his staff and told them to get the word out, paratroopers were on the way and they were on our side, don’t shoot them.  “Sir, I also suggest you pull your forces back to this perimeter here.”  Sergeant Major Valliant pointed to a position on the map.

              MG Boney sighed and thought what now? “Why Sergeant Major?”

              “Sir, a contingent of B-52s out of Travis will be carpet bombing Magnus at 0930 today near here.”

              “Bullshit!” said the General’s Executive Officer.

              “No bullshit,” Sergeant Major Valliant said. 

              “Pull them back,” MG Boney ordered.  The General was relishing the thought of Magnus getting the shit bombed out of him. Hopefully it would make him think twice about continuing on; hope was eternal.

It had been over a year since anyone had seen an aircraft carrier sitting off the coast; it was a mother hen looking after her young.  The small armada had made good time and arrived in the late evening of the fifth day.  The
USS Iowa
with her powerful guns standing guard; sailors were at their battle stations twenty-four seven now, in the morning the transports would make their way into Norfolk followed by the Iowa.  The
USS Hornet
would remain on duty off the coast; the
Iowa
would only be in port long enough to drop off the Admiral, then it would quickly return to the Hornet. 

              There had been no order to begin air operations for the Hornet. Apparently the air space in and around the Army of the Potomac was going to be somewhat busy very soon, that’s all the Admiral knew.  At sunrise the transports and the
Iowa
made their way to Norfolk, expecting to dock by 0800. The Admiral and his staff would exit the
Iowa
as soon as it was safe to leave it. Even though there was no direct threat against the Hornet the Admiral didn’t want to leave her unattended too long.  The
USS Iowa
was only expected to be in port no more than sixty minutes.  She would then return to her duties over-shadowing the Hornet, though the Admiral knew he was being a bit paranoid; hell no one even knew there were here. 

              The transports docked at 0748 and at 0810 the Marines started to disembark, thousands of them.  Once off the ship they formed into Companies, which formed the Battalions, and from there they were marched to a holding area that Major Luxon had set up for them.  The Marines were led by Brigadier General Horatio Lane, a hard-charging Devil Dog that had been in the Corps for twenty-five years.  Like many of the men and women he commanded he was both an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, and also a Medal of Honor recipient and living legend, and the Marines under his command would follow him into hell and take on the devil if he asked.  

              BG Lane had been briefed on who Major Luxon was and what he had done in the absence of any senior Marine guidance.  The General told his staff after the briefing on the Major that maybe he was the one that should have gotten the medal and he wished he had a thousand more like him.  The General thought the major was everything resembling the Corps persona; he took command of the situation when no one else would.  Once in port and on the ground the General called for the major to join him at his earliest convenience, which was a nice way of saying, get your ass over here now. 

              Fortunately, Major Luxon had personally set up the general’s command post, because the Secretary of the Navy had asked the general to join the other general officers at the Pentagon.  BG Lane simply responded, “Thank you sir, but no thanks. I’ll stay with my Marines.”

              BG Lane was a dying breed. He still believed in leading from the front, not at a desk buried someplace in the Pentagon or a headquarters building.  He would stay and fight with his Marines and die if need be. BG Lane marched with his Marines into the holding area where Major Luxon had set up everything they would need--tents, mess facilities, heads, and a recreation area.  Major Luxon was standing near his Humvee listening to the radio. There was a lot of chatter over the net from various locations throughout the camp.  Major Luxon had taken it upon himself to name the camp ‘Camp Puller’ for the most famous Marine of them all, Chesty Puller.

              BG Lane noticed a young Major standing next to a Humvee at the front gate to the camp. He assumed it was Major Luxon and once he got a bit closer he could clearly see the last named spelled out on his name tag.  Major Luxon noticed several people heading in his direction from the incoming Marines; he wondered what the hell this was all about.  As they got closer he saw the single star. His first thought was, oh shit.  Major Luxon called out to his Marines, “Boys you better pull it together quick; we’re about to have some very important company.”  The Marine in the turret turned and pointed the M249 at the General and his staff and yelled, “Halt!” The incoming Marines had been told to steer clear of the Humvees. They were running over watch and it wasn’t unusual for the bad guys to find old Marine uniforms and try to break ranks and attack.

              The General and his staff froze in their tracks. Major Luxon was horrified and could see his career going down the drain, but to be fair, his Marine was following his orders.  “Belay that order, Corporal,” Major Luxon shouted.  The Major stepped away from the Humvee and walked to the General, came to attention and saluted.  BG Lane casually returned the salute, “Major Luxon I presume?” BG Lane asked. 

              Major Luxon said, still standing at attention, “Aye sir.”

              “Relax Major; I’m really not that formal while we’re in the field,” BG Lane responded.  “Is there a place we can talk and catch up?”

              Brigadier General Lane was a living legend in the Marine Corps. Major Luxon wasn’t sure how relaxed he was going to be able to be around the General.  “Yes sir, there’s a building on the far end of the camp, two-story with billets for you and your staff as well as offices and a conference room, where I have set up a briefing for you.”

              BG Lane was right about the young major. He was glad he was on their side.  “That’d be fine Major; any chance you can give us a ride over to it?”

              “Yes sir of course,” Major Luxon said.

              The Major waved over the other Humvee that was on the other side of the road.  The General and two of his staff climbed into the vehicles with the Major and his Marines and headed out.  The building was on the far-side of the camp, about a half mile away. It was a slow drive, because Marines were every place.  Major Luxon never thought he would see the day, where this many Marines were at a single location again.

              Arriving at the HQ and BOQ the men exited the building with Major Luxon leading the way. The conference room was on the first floor to the right as they entered.  There was hot coffee and pastries waiting for them, which was a nice surprise.  They all took their seats along the table. At each seat was a binder with the briefing that Major Luxon was about to give.  Major Luxon stood at the head of the table, nervous as hell, “It’s great to see you all here.” “To be honest, I never thought this day would come.”  Major Luxon looked around the room, each man had their eyes set on him, for the next hour and a half Major Luxon made his presentation and answered all questions.

              “I’m impressed Major,” BG Lane stated.  “You’ve done so much with so little.  The Pentagon in their infinite wisdom has decided to place you and your Battalion under my command.  However, as impressed as I am with you Major, I can’t have a Major as a Battalion Commander. I hope you understand.”

              Major Luxon was crestfallen as was evident in his face. “Yes sir, of course. I suspected I might lose it.”

              At that moment Colonel Welfort, a member of the General’s staff stood, “Attention to orders!” The Colonel said and everyone in the room came to attention.  BG Lane and Captain O’Hara who had arrived late moved to either side of the Major, and began to remove his Major leaves from uniform as Colonel Welfort continued to read.  The General and the Captain pinned on the silver leaves of a Lieutenant Colonel, “I told you Colonel I couldn’t let a Major have the Battalion, but I can sure as hell give it to a Lieutenant Colonel.” The General said chuckling.  “Congratulations son, you deserve it.” 

              The Captain slapped Lt Colonel Luxon’s back and shook his hand, “He’s damn right you deserved it.  I couldn’t have done anything here without you,” Colonel O’Hara said.  “You were a godsend son, you really have no idea.  You were in the right place at the right time.”

              Lt Colonel Luxon was beside himself. First he was Major a couple of months ago and now Lt Colonel. Never in his wildest imagination did he ever think this would happen.  Colonel Welfort had finished reading Lt Colonel’s Luxon promotion orders, so everyone in the room stood and applauded.  All of the General’s staff was keenly aware of Lt Colonel Luxon’s accomplishments.  As far as they were concerned, he was the only man holding the Corps together on the East Coast as far as they knew. 

              “I already know you’re ready to take the reins for your Battalion, Colonel, but I have a new mission for you.   Actually, it’s for the entire Regiment. I appreciate everything you’ve done here, but all of us, including you, Lieutenant Colonel will be moving out and heading north in forty-eight hours.  We’re going to head right into the shit, well march through Washington D.C. under escort by the 82
nd
Airborne.  Fuck, like we need an escort by those paratroopers, but orders are orders. Brigadier General Lane was not happy about that.  “Once through DC we head north, taking on all comers and right into Baltimore. Our mission is to clean it out and cut off any approach by this Army of the Potomac.  Just like the Army asking the Marines to clean up their mess.”

              With that everyone in the room laughed.  “Listen up,” BG Lane stated. “Let’s get back to our Marines, let’s get them settled, a head count, vehicles situated, and some chow.  Staff meeting with all senior officers and NCOs tomorrow morning at 0900.  Do you have a place that’ll hold us all Lieutenant Colonel?” BG Lane asked Lt Colonel Luxon.

              “Aye sir, there is a theater on the camp that will hold everyone nicely.”  The lieutenant colonel responded.

              “Nice, Colonel great job thinking ahead.  Alright then, gentlemen, 0900 at the theater.  Questions?”  There were none.  “Great, dismissed, let’s get back to work,” BG Lane ordered.