Читать книгу New Earth: The Search for Justice - R.D. Ph.D. Pittman - Страница 9

Sandi called the New York office of the ABC network and asked to speak to the editor in charge of network news.

“Ma’am the network managers are not taking any calls at this time,” she said.

“Young lady you tell them that Dr. Sandra Chenowith, the Chief of Staff for General Alex Hanken, is on the line. If they want to get an interview with him tomorrow they better snap to,” Sandi stretched the truth a little.

“Uh, just one moment ma’am.”

“Ma’am I have Carol Downey our evening news anchor on the line, go ahead Ms. Downey.”

“Dr. Chenowith, how can I be assured this is not some prank?”

“Ms. Downey as we speak General Hanken is dispatching Apache helicopters to fend off your local affiliate helicopters that are violating restricted airspace. There appears to be a near mob scene at the front gate. I would suggest you contact your affiliates, warn them he will not condone such activity. Now, Alex has agreed to an interview tomorrow at ten a.m. here at Peterson Air Force Base. He asked me to inform you this will not be an exclusive interview for only your network. Secondly, this will be a pooled broadcast for national and international viewers. You should plan on bringing the necessary equipment to conduct such an interview and the subsequent broadcast. We will be extending the same invitation to CBS, NBC, CNN, and Fox News, the interview will last one and a half hours. There are to be no questions about General Hanken personally, or his family. I suggest you wait about a half hour then contact your network colleagues at the stations I just mentioned to coordinate this interview. Call us back at the following number; give us the names of the people from your network who will be attending. Please limit it to technicians and your moderator only. Make sure when they arrive they have adequate credentials to identify themselves. In addition, you should plan to arrive with sufficient time to set up your broadcast equipment and be ready for the ten a.m. time slot. Do you have any questions?”

“No, Dr. Chenowith, I will get on this immediately,” Downey replied.

Cynthia and Liz listened in on Sandi’s call. They went about the task of calling the other networks to be invited. It took about forty-five minutes to accomplish what Alex had requested.

The four networks became a frenetic scene of activity, people shouting at each other; take this, don’t forget that, get the private jet ready, start the satellite trucks rolling out of Denver. Get copy editors together on the questions. We need tape of Desert Storm, the A-10 Thunderbolt he flew. What about testimonials? Find the people he served with, ten thousand dollars for a five minute testimonial, yelled a network executive. What about the music montage, graphics, get graphics on this now? It was pure bedlam in New York, people were called out of their beds, contacted at restaurants, text messages flew around wireless networks at astonishing speeds, the entire news network of America was on full alert and in motion for what might turn out to be the interview of the century. Make-up artists and hair stylists were jetted to Colorado Springs; camera, lighting, recording, and audio techs, and their massive equipment loads, were put on leased cargo planes and headed to Colorado Springs as well.

Private jets were streaking their way west with network interviewers on board, rewriting their questions again and again, as they flew toward this much anticipated interviewt. The networks appointed the following to conduct the interview: NBC was sending George Neff, CBS, Tom Azner; ABC, Carol Downey; CNN, Lester Keller; and Fox News, John Vanity.

A list of over four hundred names was provided to Sandi who would somehow be involved in the production. Sandi informed Alex they would probably start showing up around five a.m. the next morning. Alex asked Sandi to contact the mess hall and have them prepare a huge spread of breakfast items and juices for the expected crowd. Alex instructed Commander Morris, agents Somers and Evans, to head up security, establish a checkpoint at the gate to verify the names on Sandi’s list. No one else would be allowed in. All incoming guests were to be afforded the best of courtesy, but they would be restricted to the base media center and not allowed to wander off to any other part of the base.

All equipment trucks were to be screened for explosive devices two hundred yards from the front gate; all personnel would be patted down for hidden weapons. All vehicles, except for the equipment trucks, were to be parked at the front gate and the passengers transported to the media center by base busses. Each bus would have two Navy Seals on board and escort each busload of people into the media center. Alex asked Curt to coordinate the transportation issues. He instructed Ted Jeffers, Elena, and Andrade to stay at the residence; he didn’t want them recognized by anyone on the opposing side. Sandi, Cynthia, and Liz were to be the problem solvers. Medics should be close by in case somebody gets sick, know where the latrines were and direct them to that location quickly. Have the mess hall assign three of their staff to the refreshment stand to serve coffee and juices and restock the food table if necessary. All base personnel were to avoid the media center area until three p.m. that afternoon. Morris, Somers, and Evans were to account for all personnel in and out; Alex didn’t want any stragglers left behind.

It was midnight by the time everyone got to bed and five a.m. came early the next morning. Everyone had finished their breakfast by four thirty and reported to their assigned duty locations. As Sandi suggested, the big tractor-trailer trucks began rolling up about five a.m. and Morris, Somers, and Evans sprang into action, scouring the trucks for explosives and patting down the drivers as well. About an hour later the car and SUV caravans appeared with the network people, identifications were checked against the approved list of attendees, and base busses transported the people to the media center.

Staging personnel marked off the media center floor with black tape, lighting techs raised a scaffold of lights and began adjusting the angles based on the seating arrangements. Audio techs dropped mini microphones from the lighting scaffolds to check sound levels at different locations on the set. Camera crews set up their pods from six different angles within the media center. Then came the cabling crews, with thousands of feet of cabling, linking sound, video, and lighting effects to the master control centers in the tractor-trailer trucks. Gears whirred, buttons clicked, circuits popped, people scurried around like ants busy building an ant colony high-rise; shouts of I need this, and I need that, punctuated the air. No, move that over there, that won’t do, pull in for this kind of shot, lower the number four mic two inches, turn down the intensity of the red light to a number four setting, so went the language of the broadcast industry. Sandi, Cynthia, and Liz watched in utter amazement at what was transpiring before their eyes; this was network TV in its finest hour. One full hour of testing all equipment repeatedly gave the network people the confidence that everything was ready. Now all they needed were the anchors to show up and do a run through with lighting, sound, and camera checks: it was eight thirty. The five limousines carrying the network anchors approached the front gate at eight fifteen. They were hustled to the media center, whisked through makeup and hair stylist’s last touches, and onto the stage to do a run through of all systems.

Alex was finishing a call to Admiral Hanover when Sandi beeped his cell phone.

“Alex, they need you here to check sound and lighting.”

“Okay, I’ll be right down.”

The front gate was closed to further entry and guarded by fifty Marines; thirty-five Navy Seals heavily armed with automatic assault rifles surrounded the media center.

Alex entered the media center flanked by Sandi and Somers, all eyes were transfixed on this man they had so eagerly awaited. Network executives approached Alex and introduced themselves, makeup people hovered around Alex. Somers was nervous with this many people so close to Alex.

“Oh my, he hardly needs any makeup, maybe a little under the eyes, but that’s all,” the young make-up artist said as he sashayed off to get his kit.

“Young man, thank you for the compliment, but I don’t use makeup,” Alex apologized. Somers was amused at how they were all fawning over him; she could hear the female attendees gasping in the background. He was taller than they expected, he was physically imposing, and his looks hid his real age. Alex approached the stage and shook hands with all the network anchors who would be asking him the questions. They agreed among themselves as to who would ask which questions. They used a lottery to decide who got the first question. After Alex finished his sound check everyone was satisfied with the positions around the table. It was nine fifty five.

A stage manager came out and announced.

“Five minute warning, all quiet please, everyone be seated, all beepers and cell phones off. We will be broadcasting live to over a billion people worldwide, this will be the largest live broadcast ever, you are part of history folks,” he proudly stated.

“Okay, thirty seconds,” he counted down to ten, and then pointed to George Neff of NBC.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen we are broadcasting live from the media center at Peterson Air Force base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This Air Force base is the headquarters of General Alex Hanken. As many of you know General Hanken has opposed Admiral Torrance’s overthrow of the US government and vowed to reverse that action and restore the United States to a democracy. He commands the largest nuclear arsenal on this planet and has the ability to deliver those weapons with the most sophisticated weapons systems in the world. He was a Desert Storm combat hero and the Iraqi war logistic planning genius that resulted in the shortened ground and air war at the outset of the conflict. He was promoted by Presidential special citation to a four star general seven months ago. General Hanken I have a surprise for you, this is a text message I received late last night from President Betts, may I read it to you?” Alex nodded in agreement.

‘General Hanken, since I am indisposed at this time, I must use George Neff of NBC to deliver a message to you. You’re continued support of the principles of our founding fathers and the exemplary manner in which you discharge your duties reflect what a true American is. General Hanken, the fate of this nation rests in your hands, you are the patriot general who can renew our faith in the cause of freedom, you are no less than our current day George Washington, and may God bless you and guide you to your destiny.’ “This is a verbatim text message from President Owen Betts,” Neff said.

“Thank you George, and thank all of you for showing up on such short notice.”

“Now to the questions, one from each panel member, with an opportunity for one follow-up question,” Neff explained.

“General Hanken will you reconsider your opposition to Admiral Torrance if his positions become popular with the American public?” Neff asked the first question.

“Never,” Alex replied firmly.

“Why?” Neff countered.

“George, if just one American disagrees with his position, it might as well be the entire nation, because that one citizen has been deprived of his/her constitutional right to voice their opinion at the ballot box.”

“Admiral Torrance said you had assured him you would not attack his forces, how then do you plan to restore democracy to our country?” Tom Azner of CBS asked.

“Tom, first, I did not say I wouldn’t attack his forces, what I did say was that a civil war between our forces would serve no useful purpose. Second, this is not our country; thieves have stolen our country away from us. Third, Admiral Torrance has the audacity to say that such a civil war could endanger our sovereignty as a free nation. We are not a free nation, this country is being run by a military dictatorship and we are no better off than a third world country run by a corrupt government,” Alex pounded his point home.

Sandi remarked to Liz and Tina, “He just hit a homerun.”

“It has been estimated by foreign military specialists that you control more destructive power than any military figure in the history of the world. Why should Americans or for that matter, any citizen of the world, think you would give up this power and not just appoint yourself dictator?” Carol Downey of ABC asked.

“Carol, my stated goal, and it will never change, is to free the President, his cabinet, the Congress, and the Supreme Court justices. I will spare no expense in tracking down and apprehending the conspirators and bring them to justice. I am an American patriot, and I have no political aspirations. I will give my life in the pursuit of rectifying this cowardly act perpetrated against this country.”

“General, you say that you have no political aspirations, how should Americans feel about your ability to help steward this country during this time of turmoil?” Lester Keller of CNN asked.

“Lester, the day before yesterday I spoke with President Kleskova, his senior security advisors, and his key military leaders. In that meeting, I received assurances from him that the Russian government will not interfere in this internal conflict. He went on to say that he is in support of my position and offered any assistance they could provide. Yesterday I learned that the US Treasury was considering cutting funds for some of the military units under my control. Since the Treasury Secretary is imprisoned by Admiral Torrance, I spoke with the Asst. Secretary Albert Martin. I informed him that under no circumstances should he or anyone associated with Admiral Torrance undertake such an action. I would consider that a provocative act and would respond with extreme prejudice. Treasury activities should be maintained at normal levels. I have the Denver and San Francisco mints under my control, along with seventy-five per cent of the gold, silver, and platinum bullion at secured locations under my command.

“Also, yesterday I had a conference call with all twelve Governors of the Federal Reserve. They have pledged their support to me. I gave them the task of fanning out across the nation, speaking to banks, and the general public that it is business as usual; there will be no interruption of commerce.”

“General, who do you think is behind this?” John Vanity of Fox News asked.

“Besides Torrance, it has to be some very well placed powerful people, maybe some members of Congress, and possibly a foreign government. We will find out in the coming weeks, I will not rest until we have uncovered all the conspirators.”

“What will be their fate?” Tom Azner asked.

“That’s not within my authority to determine.”

“Who will decide their fate?”

“A tribunal of US based jurists.”

“General Hanken on behalf of all my network colleagues, thank you for your time. Now if you wish, the country and the entire world audience is watching,” Neff offered.

“Thank you George. To all Americans I say, stay vigilant, obey the law, and don’t give up on your hopes and dreams. I am working on your behalf to take back your country, please be patient. Do not heed the advice of traitors, they have only their best interests in mind, you mean nothing to them. This is not about me, this is about you, I am simply a tool to accomplish a task, and I will do my very best for you. To the world audience I say this, the United States will stand again, and we will take our place among the leaders of the free world. Thank you and may your God bless each and every one of you.”

The stage manager stood before one of the cameras listening to the control truck directions and said.

“That’s a wrap folks.”

The entire studio audience broke out in wild applause, Sandi rushed to the stage, kissing him on the cheek, telling him how proud of him she was.

“I did okay then?” Alex joked.

Curt, Cynthia, Liz, agents Somers and Evans, and Commander Morris joined Alex on stage to congratulate him on a great performance. All the anchors moved forward to shake his hand and to comment on his responses. How well thought out, yet fiery and to the point. He didn’t dodge one single question, and the fact that he didn’t know the questions beforehand made it even more amazing how coolly he responded.

George Neff asked Alex why he didn’t let the equipment stay here and have a monthly or weekly broadcast like Torrance is having every Wednesday. Alex pondered for a moment.

“George you may have something there, the American people need to hear both sides of this argument, so they can make informed decisions. Why don’t we do this, I’ll have a weekly televised news conference on Thursday evenings, that way I can comment on Torrance’s remarks from the night before. I can’t give one network the shot, it’ll need to be similar to this broadcast, but it doesn’t have to be worldwide.”

“Holy cow,” as Neff turned to the other anchors, “Did you just hear that?”

Network executives crowded the stage to commit their networks to the broadcasts; they began advising Alex that they could have contracts drawn up tomorrow for his signature.

“Gentlemen, you need no contracts, I am a man of my words, and we will have a televised news conference every Thursday at seven p.m. for the next several weeks, after that we’ll see if all involved want to continue.”

“Well General since we didn’t ask you about Torrance’s tax plan during the questioning session, what did you think of it, the flat tax I mean,” Carol Downey inquired.

“I’m in favor of a flat tax, but I would step up with two more rate tiers, a twenty-five per cent rate on incomes exceeding $500,000, and a thirty-five per cent rate on incomes exceeding one million dollars. Keep all deductions on the books to lower your income, but no one will pay less than fifteen per cent of their gross income. I think that is more progressive and fairer to lower income individuals.”

“Can I quote you?” she asked.

“Carol, you haven’t had a chance to get to know me yet, when I speak you may always quote me; otherwise, I will have ‘no comment’.”

“This is a reporter’s dream, we may have to move a new team out here just to cover the General,” Lester Keller commented.

“I can guarantee our network in New York is working on that as we speak,” Tom Azner said.

“General, I know you want to get back to work, but may I just say that your signoff to the world where you wished each person’s God bless them was one of the most politically correct statements I’ve ever heard, and you say you have no political aspirations,” George Neff noted.

“You’re right I don’t, and I do need to get back to work now George. We’ll secure your equipment here at the media center, and you can leave the master control truck parked where it is, but you guys have to get off my base so we can get some work done.” Alex walked away with his arm around Sandi.

Carol Downey remarked that Dr. Chenowith appeared to be more than General Hanken’s Chief of Staff. Alex and Sandi’s relationship became a sort of model for the cast of characters surrounding them and in time those other relationships would flourish and reveal themselves.