Chain of Command (23 page)
Authors: CG Cooper
Gen. Winfield stared at the man who’d been behind the murder of so many of his Marines. It was unconscionable, treasonous, pure evil. Part of him wanted to pull out his pistol and shoot the man full of lead.
Mason looked at him with an amused grin, and then shifted back to Cal.
“Semper Fucking Fi,” Mason drawled, then shifted his weight forward just perceptibly.
Winfield’s eyes narrowed as his gaze followed Mason’s movement. He wasn’t going for his weapon, but he did tap his boot on the floor. A split second later a loud CLICK sounded. Gen. Winfield didn’t hesitate. He knew what was coming. He pushed past Cal just as the bouncing betty anti-personnel mine popped up from an invisible hole in the ground.
Everything slowed. Mason just sat there, unblinking, watching the show, knowing he would die. Winfield felt a presence behind him and realized at the last possible moment that it was Harley Sharp, his old friend, his trusted advisor, with him ’til the end. Winfield somehow caught the anti-personnel mine and held it to his chest. SgtMaj Sharp started to wrap his arms around Winfield as the bomb went off. Roaring chaos shattered the room and left only one man breathing.
Epilogue
Marine Corps War Memorial
8:15am, December 14
th
The near freezing temperatures did little to shake the resolve of the overflowing crowd. They’d come as one to mourn their lost brothers. Old Marines in wheelchairs sat next to Marine amputees who’d served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pot bellied motorheads, Marine emblems proudly displayed on their leather jackets and tattoos stood arm and arm with active duty Marines in blues and greens. They stood stoically, tragically accustomed to the loss of comrades.
The sun peeked out from behind the cloud just as President Zimmer took the podium. He was joined by the Joint Chiefs who stood a respectful step behind him. The political supporters included the vice president, the president’s chief of staff, Travis Haden and Congressman Tony McKnight. The politicians each wore a small Marine pin on their lapels.
Cal watched from the middle of the crowd, the bandage on his head covered by a grey beanie. Diane stood next to him, her hand wrapped around his. Daniel, MSgt Trent and Gaucho were with them, as were Neil, Jonas and Dr. Higgins. They’d all come to pay their collective respects, to remember the lives tragically cut short, and the selfless sacrifices of others.
“Today we gather to remember the fallen,” the president began, looking out over the crowd. “Heroes like General Scotty Winfield, Sergeant Major Harley Sharp and General Doug Ellwood. These Marines epitomized what it means to be a leader, what it means to be an American. I don’t think any one of them would have said they were perfect, but goddammit, they were Marines.”
The cheer went up from the once hushed crowd. This was a side of Zimmer that America had rarely seen. He waited for the Oorahs, whistles and shouts to subside.
“These men gave their lives for others. Not only did they dedicate their careers in service of this country, but they believed in the quality of man and that freedom is something that we all deserve.
“Over the past few weeks, I had the great honor to get to know General Winfield. He was a man with an unflinching loyalty for his Marines and his country. He believed that the Marine Corps saved his life and had the ability to do the same for young men and women now and in the future. The Marine Corps was his home, where he chose to hang his sword. He said he was proudest of the legacy of the Marine Corps, the leaders it had produced and the enemies it held at bay. But he was also concerned about its future. He told me that selfishness and a cancerous sense of entitlement not only threatened the foundation of the Marine Corps, but of its sister services and the entire country.
“These flag officers standing behind me are a testament to the vision General Winfield had. He believed in a United States military that lived up to the traditions of old. Honor. Sacrifice. Loyalty. Today we pledge to live up to his ideal, to work together, to mend our wounds and forge our bonds. The Secretary of Defense, with the help of the Joint Chiefs will work to build a new foundation of joint cooperation. While a soldier may be a soldier, and a Marine is always a Marine, we are all Americans, united in a common cause in the defense of this great nation.
“As we mourn the loss of your brothers, we must also take a step forward, and look to the future. I am happy to tell you, that this afternoon, at the home of the Marine Corps at Eighth & I streets, your new commandant will take his oath.”
There were murmurs throughout the crowd. No one had heard about the announcement. They were shocked that some higher up had chosen to replace Gen. Winfield so soon.
President Zimmer nodded to the crowd, acknowledging that he understood their confusion.
“I’ve taken this unprecedented step with the full support of your top officer and senior enlisted leaders. I’m happy to say that I didn’t have to look far for General Winfield’s successor. Your new Commandant was not only a very good friend of General Winfield, and was held in high esteem by his old comrade, but comes with plenty of experience. I won’t keep you waiting, I promise. Marines, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to tell you that the next Commandant of the Marine Corps, a man I greatly admire, and am proud to call a valued advisor and friend, is General McMillan.”
There was a pause as the crowd tried to process who General McMillan was. The only one they knew was currently the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the senior officer in the entire United States Armed Forces. Was there another McMillan? Their answer came a moment later, when the four-star general replaced the president at the podium. The crowd erupted in cheers. This was completely unprecedented. Up until recently, there’d never been a Marine who’d served in America’s highest military post. Now he was stepping back, taking his stars to the Corps?
Gen. McMillan put up his hand, silencing the crowd.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. I know Scotty Winfield is looking down on us now, smiling at you and waggling his finger at me. I know exactly what he’d say. too. Don’t screw it up, Mac!”
The crowd laughed and their soon-to-be Commandant chuckled with them. He looked up at the sky.
“We’ll miss you, old friend. Semper Fidelis.”
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Gen. McMillan kept it short, thanking the president and the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Once his speech concluded, he stepped off the stage and went to mingle with the crowd. Congressman McKnight watched him go.
“Thanks again for coming, Tony,” said the president, patting McKnight on the back.
“There’s no place I’d rather be, Mr. President.”
“Anyway, it means a lot to me that you came. Thanks again for the support. I won’t forget it.” The president nodded to the head of his security detail and he was swept away in an orderly fashion.
McKnight looked out over the crowd and then his eyes followed the wailing sirens of the D.C. cops escorting the president back to the White House. Despite his neutral demeanor, McKnight could only repeat one question over and over again in his head, “How did it go wrong?”
He’d had every piece in place. There was overwhelming pressure coming at the president and Marine Corps from all sides. How the hell had Zimmer slipped through the gauntlet once again?
His pawns had failed. Gower and Mason were dead. Tom Steiner was still in FBI custody. And Glen Whitworth was hiding behind his lawyers as agencies pounced on OrionTech. It seemed that whatever Gen. Ellwood uncovered in his covert investigation included information about the Whitworth family’s illegal business dealings. Words like bribery, extortion and even murder were being tossed around the upper echelons of those in the know. It would take Whitworth a long time to dig out of his own mess, if he even could.
McKnight took a deep breath of chilly December air and told himself that it didn’t matter. He’d suffered setbacks before, but he had plenty of time to prep for the presidential election, and there were many more pawns for him to use. In fact, he already had a plan in place that would tip the scales in his direction. All he needed was a little time.
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