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.I will not stand for it.”Toby winced, inwardly.These days, federal agents were even less popular than radical fundamentalists from what was left of the Middle East.Local police forces were refusing to cooperate, while the population took pot-shots at them at every opportunity.The previous Governor of Kansas had been under massive pressure even before someone had popped a cap in his ass; his successor would know better than to cooperate with McGreevy – and the aliens – openly.It probably wouldn't last – the aliens could take him and his government out with ease – but it would send shockwaves running through the entire country.The ties that bound America together were fraying.“I have ordered the military to advance into Kansas and place the state under martial law,” McGreevy added.“They will punish anyone who dares resist.”Toby wondered if she believed that it would actually happen.He doubted that what remained of the military would be willing or capable of invading Kansas, or any other state for that matter.McGreevy simply didn't control enough to even threaten the state, at least not without the aliens backing her up.He studied her carefully, wondering if she’d finally tipped over into madness.How long would it be before she ordered him killed, merely for having served the previous President?“They tried to kill me,” McGreevy said.“They tried to assassinate their President.Can you imagine that? How fallen must a man be before he tries to assassinate the President?”Toby shrugged.McGreevy’s White House was surrounded by armed guards and the surrounding areas of Washington had been evacuated, the population moved to detention camps just to ensure that McGreevy was safe.He allowed himself a slight smirk at the thought of all those lobbyists serving time in a camp, before shivering at her tone.She was definitely heading into madness, and then.the President could do less to make things better than most people believed, but it was easy to make things worse.“Your safety must be our first priority,” Toby said.He spoke in a smooth voice, one he privately considered his ass-kissing voice.The real President wouldn't have been fooled, but McGreevy accepted it as her due.Besides, without her, Toby had no position in Washington.She would believe that he would be loyal, if only because he had nowhere else to go.“The White House is no longer safe.”McGreevy looked up, but she didn't bother to dispute his claim.“The attacks launched over the past week by the terrorists have all had one thing in common,” Toby continued.“They have all been mounted against humans, not the aliens.The troops deployed by the Galactic Federation” – he had no idea if McGreevy still believed in the Federation – “have not been attacked.Anywhere guarded by their men has been left utterly untouched.You would be safest on one of the bases they guard, at least until the situation is back under control.”“True,” McGreevy agreed.“But I don’t want to give the impression that I am running away from the terrorists.”Toby was mildly surprised.He’d expected her to leap at the offer.“We don’t want them to think that they have you buttoned into the White House,” he pointed out.“How about a state visit to Andrews Air Force Base? Once there, you could board Air Force One and remain aloft until the country was secure.”Air Force One – or at least one of the several aircraft decked out as Air Force One – had been brought down by the aliens, but McGreevy knew that she was worth more to them alive.Or so she hoped, Toby suspected.How far had she gone into madness? There was no way to know.“An excellent idea,” McGreevy agreed, finally.“I shall depart once I have seen the Cabinet.”“It will take several hours to set up the security needed for your safety,” Toby pointed out.“I suggest that you go tomorrow, once everything is in place.”“See to it,” McGreevy ordered.Toby left the Oval Office, endured the search and headed down to his own office.If everything went according to plan, the resistance would have their shot at the aliens – and McGreevy as well.And if the aliens had managed to crack the codes the resistance was using, or if they’d managed to get a bug into one of the resistance bases, they were doomed.He shivered.They were staking everything on one throw of the dice.Chapter Thirty-NineWashington DCUSA, Day 73Washington was dark.Mathew Bracken shivered as the SEALs made their way towards the collaborator base
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