Retribution (Soldier Up - Book Five 5) Read Online Free Page A

and not a word was spoken.
    “I’d love to see that train,” General Moon said.
    General Portson looked at General Moon and started to laugh breaking the tension in the room.  “Damn good to see you Colonel, damn good!” General Portson said.
    “Do you have a shortwave radio?” asked Colonel Lambert. “I need to report that we have successfully arrived at the fort or they’re going to send in the cavalry.”
    “The cavalry?” asked General Portson.
    “Yes sir, I’ve got an infantry company on the train. I told them that if I don’t report in within two hours of my departure, well asked, more like it, that if they could find the time to come and get me.” Colonel Lambert stated.
    “I’m sorry Colonel, we don’t have any shortwave radios because we’re unaware they would work,” Colonel Moon said.
    Colonel Lambert looked at them quizzically for a moment thinking they were supposed to be the best and brightest. “Sir Shortwaves with tubes work fine; you just need a power source and if you don’t have any AC you can get a hand-generator to power them.”
    “I’ll be damned,” mumbled General Portson.
    Colonel Lambert looked around the room, chuckled to himself, turned and stepped out for a moment.  He returned with two soldiers each carrying two moderately sized boxes.  The two soldiers without any further orders began to unpack the boxes.  To everyone’s surprise in the room, except for Colonel Lambert of course, it was a radio and a hand cranked generator. 
    “Colonel is that what I think it is?” General Portson asked.
    “Why yes sir it is, we brought three of them with us, one for Quantico, another for Oceana and this one for you.  We will train soldiers of your selection on how to find, fix and repair the radios.  Do you happen to have a steady power source we can plug into? If not we can use the generator,” responded Colonel Lambert.
    “We’ve have power established; it runs twelve hours a day and then it’s shut-off and the generators go through the daily maintenance checks,” Lieutenant Colonel Perry said.
    Colonel Lambert looked over at Lt. Colonel Perry. General Moon’s adjutant had remained steadily quiet up to this point and nodded.  The two soldiers paying attention to the conversation turned to look for an electrical socket, found one and plugged the radio in.
    “Sir?” Sergeant Butler said.
    Colonel Lambert signaled to the Sergeant to go ahead. Sergeant Butler powered on the radio. They could hear white noise over the speakers they had installed.  Sergeant Butler tuned the radio and set the frequency.  Then using the call sign for the commander Fort Bragg he made the call back to the train.  The RTO back at the train answered promptly allowing Sergeant Butler to check in with the proper authentication that everything was good and they would be home soon.  Everyone in the conference room watched in silence. Sergeant Butler turned to Colonel Lambert, “Sir, are you ready for the next call?”
    “Yes Sergeant let’s do it,” Colonel Lambert replied.
    The officers in the room wondered what other call they were talking about, but they knew they were about to find out.
    “Papa Oscar Uniform Sierra One this is Delta Tango Niner Six Yankee, over,” Sergeant Butler said into the microphone.  General Portson recognized the call sign to POTUS and couldn’t believe it if it was true.
    The far end responded, “Delta Tango Niner Six Yankee this is Papa Oscar Uniform Sierra One, authenticate over.”
    “Papa Oscar Uniform Sierra One I authenticate Romeo Tree Foxtrot, over,” Sergeant Butler stated.
    “Roger that Delta Tango Niner Six Yankee wait one for POTUS, over,” the far end replied.
    Everyone in the conference room sat stunned ‘was this really happening?’ most of them thought.
    “Delta Tango Niner Six Yankee here’s POTUS,” the far end stated.
    “Who do I have the privilege of speaking to?” President Washington asked.
    “Sir this is Colonel Lambert.