Standing up, Ruff looked about the room, then turned his back to the members of his cabinet as he limped across the room to a window. The storm that had started that morning continued unabated.
From behind him, Thomas Fellner, the Interior Minister, was the first to speak. "I believe we need to send a high-ranking representative to the United States, preferably Herr Rooks. He could be there by tomorrow morning to meet with President Wilson. Once we understood what they had in mind and what they intended"
Pivoting, Ruff thrust his right arm down, jabbing his index finger toward the floor to emphasize his anger as he shouted, "NO! NO! I will not send a member of my government hat in hand crawling to that bitch, for any reason. Not tonight, not tomorrow, NOT EVER!" Folding his arms across his chest, Ruff took a deep breath and threw his head back before he continued. "Think, Thomas, think. Think of what that would tell the world. The leaders of the other nations in Europe would see that and say, 'Ah, see how Germany, the good little client state, runs to the United States for instructions.' Is that what you want, my friend? No. Germany is the offended party. Germany is once again captive to a unilateral American action that has gone astray." Taking a few steps forward, Ruff thrust his right arm up, finger pointed to the ceiling. "No, my comrades. Germany will not roll over like an obedient puppy dog, allowing the Americans to come and go as they please. Not this time. Not while I am Chancellor."
As if on cue, Rudolf Lammers, the Minister of Defense, spoke out. "What other options, Herr Chancellor, do we have? As we sit here beating our chests in righteous indignation, the Americans are already flying nuclear weapons into our country from the Ukraine. This is an act, if I may remind all of you, which is in clear violation of every disarmament agreement we and the United States have been party to since the collapse of the Eastern bloc. By tomorrow morning, if we do nothing, the weapons will be transferred to larger aircraft and flown back to the United States. The Americans will have, as a result of their deception and our ineptitude, achieved their objective, at our expense."
"That," Ruff added, "is exactly my point. While we sit here wringing our hands, wondering what to do, the Americans forge on with their plan. We must act. We must take action to ensure that the United States, as well as the rest of Europe, understands that we are not a puppet on a string to be jerked about whenever it pleases them. German sovereignty and self-determination, not to mention our pride and integrity, must be respected."
As in the past, Fellner raised the voice of concern and caution. Not that Ruff didn't expect it. In fact, he had counted on Fellner to do so. "What, Herr Chancellor, do you propose to do at this point? Outside of official protests, the only other option that I see is direct action against American operations within our borders. Are you proposing that we take such measures?"
Fellner's comments could not have been any more timely or better put than if Ruff had written that part of the script himself. For Ruff, the fact that Fellner, the voice of reason within the German cabinet, a man viewed by everyone in Germany and Europe as being the epitome of what a good peace-loving German should be, was the first to mention direct action was critical. For several moments, Ruff let Fellner's comments hang in the air, acting as if he were thinking about them. When he was ready, Ruff moved back to his desk, limping slightly. When he spoke, Ruff looked down at the floor, voice soft, reflective, almost as if he were speaking his thoughts rather than addressing his ministers. "That, my friends, is what we must now discuss." Then, as if a moment of indecision had passed and he had regained his resolve, Ruff looked up. "If you would, there is much to do and not much time. I would like to speak with Herr Rooks and Herr Lammers for a few minutes in private." As the cabinet members began to rise from their chairs, Ruff called out, "Excuse me, gentlemen. I am sorry. I have forgotten that I am scheduled for a press conference that should have started five minutes ago. We must as soon as possible inform the German people about what is happening in order to calm their fears and let them know that we are doing something." Looking around the room as if he were trying to decide who should serve as his substitute, Ruff stopped when his eyes came to rest on Fellner. "Would it be possible, Herr Fellner, for you to take it for me?"
Though he would have preferred not to, Fellner nodded. "Yes, Herr Chancellor, I will. How much do you want me to tell the press? Is it appropriate at this time, Herr Chancellor, to mention that we are considering declaring a state of emergency?"
Ruff struggled to conceal the joy he felt when Fellner mentioned a state of emergency. Such a declaration would allow Ruff as the Chancellor to take action without having to consult the Bundestag. "Do as you see fit, my friend. It just might be wise to bring out some of the concerns we have expressed in this meeting."
Rooks and Lammers looked at each other with a knowing glance when Ruff made that comment
After a moment, Fellner agreed. "Yes, perhaps it is best if we begin to tell the German people the truth and prepare them."
"Yes," Ruff repeated solemnly, "I suppose you are right."
When the rest of the cabinet was gone, Colonel Kasper entered the room. "Herr Chancellor, General Lange and General Schacht are waiting."
Waving his hand, Ruff ordered Kasper to show them in. Walking over to Rooks and Lammers, Ruff shook their hands. "It has begun, my friends, it has finally begun. Now all we need to do is to see if the commander of the 1st Parachute Division can deliver as he has promised."
Both Ruff and Lammers knew there was no need to discuss options. The direct action that Fellner had mentioned had already been decided upon several days before. Orders to the units involved had already been issued. Units of the Bundeswehr that were to execute those orders were on the move at that very moment The meeting between Ruff, Rooks, Lammers, and his military chief's was nothing more than a final review of the situation and any last-minute coordination that needed to be made.
If all went well, within twelve hours Germany would be a nuclear power.
The evacuation of the remnants of Company A back to the heart of Slovakia brought little comfort or joy to the survivors. While it was reasonable that they would be treated separately and kept for a while due to their exposure to radiation, the treatment that the rangers of Company A received by everyone they came across was, in Ilvanich's mind, inexcusable. The danger from any radiation that the rangers had come into contact with in the Ukraine had long since been dealt with. That did not stop treatment, however, which Ilvanich considered to be cruel and unjustifiable to the men who now looked to him for answers.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Ilvanich finally overcame his reluctance to complain and began to exert himself in the manner that was more natural to him and befitted the situation. Almost springing up from the cot where he had been sitting simmering, Ilvanich turned to Fitzhugh and the platoon sergeants who sat gathered around the cot next to Ilvanich's, picking through their cold MRE meals in silence. The Russian major's sudden move, coupled with the determined look on his face, brought a hush throughout the cot-filled tent that served as a ward for the survivors of Company A.
Looking down at the upturned faces, Ilvanich began to speak, loud enough so that everyone in the tent and the adjoining tent where the nurses were on duty could hear. "This treatment is abominable. We are not lepers, and I cannot sit here and watch you people be treated as such." Finished, Ilvanich marched to the entrance of the tent that led to where the nurses were.