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

We have made it to Fort Bragg as ordered.”
    “That’s good news Colonel. May I get a status report, please?” the President asked.
    “Yes sir, “Colonel Lambert said. “In the room is General Portson the commander of Fort Bragg, as well as the commanders of Special Operations, 82 nd Airborne Division and 18 th Airborne Corps.”
    “Welcome back to the fold gentlemen,” President Washington said.  “Would it be possible for you General Portson to give me an update on what’s going on down there?”
    General Portson had met President Washington several times and recognized the man’s voice, “Yes sir of course.” For the next thirty minutes General Portson gave the President a summary of what had happened since the event.  President Washington was astonished to find out about the underground facilities that were kept by Army Special Operations. On the other hand, he was extremely happy to hear about the helicopters and equipment.  Happy, but not impressed. “Colonel have you told them about Camp Parks?” the President asked.
    “No sir I haven’t,” Colonel Lambert responded. “Would you like to take it, sir?”
    “Thank you Colonel I would,” President Washington replied.
    For the next forty-two minutes, the President summarized the overall status of the entire military on the West Coast, civilian population and the camps, the fight against the Islamic States of America and the retaking of Southern California from Mexico and the mega-gangs of Los Angeles.  He couldn’t overstate the use of the USS Hornet and USS Iowa as well as emphasizing the rebuilding of the United States Military, all branches, and how they were trained and deployed.  All of it done in over a year.  After the President finished running through the highlights the conference room at Fort Bragg was quiet.  Every Officer and NCO in the room was quiet, lost in thought.
    “Sir, “General Portson said. “That’s quite a story. How’d they do it?”
    Everyone in the conference room was wondering the same thing
    The President responded to General Portson’s question, “Colonel John Clayton.”
    General Portson and the others were confused by the President’s response except for General Moon, “Sir, are you referring to Colonel Clayton of the 19 th Special Forces Group?”
    “No, I’m now referring to Brigadier General Clayton, Special Advisor to the President of the United States. He was previously known as Colonel Clayton of the 19 th Special Forces Group.” President Washington said.  “He was the architect of the recovery on the West Coast and did some rather amazing things with far less resources than you and I have now.”
    What President Washington said was meant as a rebuke to all of the officers in the conference room at Fort Bragg.  “I’m just as responsible for not acting, for not seeing the bigger picture and thinking outside of the box.  I failed the people of the United States, well at least those in and around the Washington D.C. area.” President Washington ranted. 
    Everyone in the room nodded at the President’s admission, which was something quite unexpected.  “General Clayton quickly recognized the event for what it was,” President Washington said.  “He took immediate action by securing Camp Parks and quickly getting a status report of all units on post and sent his staff out to gather all of the information on available resources.  From there he opened the Special Operations facilities and went to work. He waited a week to move on Hayward and surrounding communities to secure all of the retail facilities and fuel in the area and brought it all on post.  He got to work accepting refugees and that started to settle around the camp.  He started his own recruitment drives for the services and started to rebuild there.   Once they were strong enough, they secured the refineries around the bay area and got control of gangs and militias that had formed.  Listen Gentlemen I can go on and