Chapter 6: THE RIGHT FIGHT, THE MAIN CHANCE

“Seems more than slightly ridiculous to me. I think President Abbot is insane. Has to be insane sending us a declaration of war.

The USA declares WAR against rebellious Crescent City, Florida! Give it back, I’m throwing it in the trash again.”

“Better let me keep it, Linda. I’ll give it to Erik right away and see what he thinks of it.”

What does Erik think of it? Think is an undue credit, but he does react. Erik vows to personally lead an expedition to attack and raze Gothenburg to the ground End the war before it even begins. A man of fury and violent action, not inclined to calm reasoning, he lashes out first with the most terrible force he can muster, no quarter given. Annihilate any challenge promptly, kill without mercy! Preemptive strike is his response to the threat of war. Erik calls this a scorched earth strategy. Not a student of history, or he would know, a scorched earth strategy is a leave nothing usable behind in retreat, not attack.

Linda encourages him in his all or nothing blitz attack scheme. It’s the means to convince him, he needs to return, the excuse to get him to come home. She can calm and soothe him once he’s home again.

While Erik is undergoing the Duende milk diet cleansing his system of micro-nanobots, he orders Linda to make preparations for war. He wants five legions of Dan-no bot soldiers created and mustered.

A Roman legion was approximately five thousand men. Erick wants 25,000 organo-mech fighters. Shit for brains.

Linda knows this is a preposterous number, so requests her bot aide to get her five hundred combat equipped Dan-nos. He gets her ten, and there’s no more to be had. Not ever.

Each unit of the series has a two letter designation, such as DN, the first Dan-no. There are enough letter combinations for 676 uniquely named units. The final ten just delivered completes the series.

No more letters left. Who has all those soldiers? They’re a threat!

Linda has four deputies but two are already in Gothenburg looking for May Day. Six Dan-nos comprise the cities gardeners, grounds and maintenance staff, and she has two personal servants. Dan-no chauffeur body guards, have been with her for decades.

SPORT and YNGHOUSE each have four man crews, all Dan-nos. Total Dan? Twenty eight available. Two more in Gothenburg, will make thirty, when they can rejoin. Who else?

The shorty kid sized ERKs are the most popular by far, and most numerous of the Erik clones. Linda is unwilling to put five year old kids into uniform, even if they’re mechs. There are three each, of Ire-icks and Yucks. If they can’t be taught to fight, they can certainly tote gear and ammo for the actual combatants.

Women fighters? A call for volunteers receives a splendid response. Thirty five patriotic women enlisted. Four more were too young or too old. Don’t you dare smirk at civic pride and patriotism. High Schools and Pro teams, American football stirs up civic patriotism to intense levels. Belligerent, violent, war-like levels!

“FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! Rah, rah, ree, kick them in the knee. Rah, rah, rass, kick them in the other knee. FIGHT TEAM FIGHT!”

Counting herself and Erik, an Army seventy one strong, enough for two platoons has been assembled. The two Dan-nos in Gothenburg, currently unavailable, will fall in on arrival.

Drilling and training begins. Crescent City resembles an Army camp, with all the cargo pocket fatigues folks are wearing. Transport vehicles are assembled and serviced. Food and munitions can be ordered up anywhere, at any time. They won’t need a supply van.