Chapter 16

Steve over flew the area again. He was once again flying the ship he had taken up into space. This time it was in support of the defense of America. The French, of all people, had decided to invade and strip a portion of winter wheat that was found growing in abundance in a portion of Texas.

"Angel 3, this is Bagman 1, over?" Greg called over the radio.

"Angel 3, over." Steve replied.

"Angel 3, spot any other targets? We are twiddling our thumbs down here. For an invasion, they sure sucked. Over." Greg said jovially.

"Thats a negative Bagman. Off hand I would say we took out a big chunk of French military might when we sunk their submarine. With no sub threatening nuclear reprisal's, it appears that their ground force was no threat to you, is that a roger?" Steve asked.

"Roger that Angel 3. We estimate having killed over one third in the initial contact. The rest surrendered. Apparently from what initial questioning is revealing, most were conscripted for harvesting. Over." Greg said.

For the next fifteen minutes, Steve circled, and they talked about the battle and having captured the French freighter and the huge ocean going barge. France was apparently already asking for the return of it's property and people. It was unbelievable that they had even asked that.

At Cheyenne Mountain, much the same was going through the president's mind. First the French had sent a message stating if their people were harmed in any way, that the French would retaliate with a nuclear strike.

The French demanded that the US step down and offer no resistance to the force France was sending to 'collect' it's due for the damage and harm the US had done to it by taking down all it's satellites. Since the US had so much winter wheat growing in Texas, they would harvest a quantity as partial payment.

The US responded by destroying the French nuclear submarine, and not only resisting the landing party, but killed over one third of the force France sent. They also had the temerity of capturing the ship and barge France had sent, and France wanted the release of it's people and property back now, or a state of war would exist between the people's of France and the US.

"General Avery. Can you tell me what world the French live in? I am at a loss as to how to get through to these people." The president said.

"It's the socialist mentality sir. Previously, France and other socialistic countries had the ability to draw on world opinion to counter logical arguments. Those days are over. Also, France, Italy, Spain, and a few other countries were sucking huge amounts of money to support their social programs from that fairly new European commonwealth. From a couple counter parts of mine in a few of the wealthier countries, they were regretting their decision. Germany in particular. Greece also lied in their application and didn't have the money it said they did, but after they were accepted, the union was forced to divert huge amounts of money their way.

"What is going on now, is there is no support system left intact over there. So they see something they want, they revert to type. Every country that is left is trying to just survive. What France did with us is precisely what they accused us of doing in the pre strike days. They thought they could get away with nuclear blackmail, and it didn't work."

A lively discussion ensued that also included several possibilities in dealing with the French. Finally the president announced that his decision was that if France so much as breathed anymore threats or socialistic crap in the direction of the US, then the president would launch a nuclear strike at France. To be precise, at the French command bunker. That done, they moved onto other more important business.

Aboard the International Space Station, another discussion was ongoing. Where to land the space shuttle that would take the remaining members with the exception of the Russian capsule. Someone suggested the salt flats in Utah. It was a good suggestion really. They just needed to be sure that they were totally dry before they attempted to land.

The Russian had already agreed that landing in Russia might not be such a good idea. Relations between China and Russia were strained at best, and the weather had destroyed much of the Russian food sources. Also, one of the Astronauts that was left without a ride was from Egypt. He opted for a landing in or near his country, and the Russian refused adamantly to even consider a landing in that region. So where to land was a topic of much interest to all aboard the station.