Chapter 97

“A change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that’s all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain’t changed
‘Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war.” - The Who, Won’t Get Fooled Again

1245 hours, local time
Thursday, 19 February, 2015
The Chancellery Complex
The City of Haven, The Province of Oregon
The Commonwealth of Haven

“So far, according to Nydia, our forces have been able to hit the forces inside Sacramento itself even more effectively than those in West Sacramento. They have been taken entirely off-guard, unable to react quickly to the imminent threat from two Marine battalions and the Undead Guard striking them at their most vulnerable points. They were thinking offensively rather than defensively, after all. The People’s Army of Sacramento is reeling and pulling more into the city itself, which has allowed us to seize significant sectors within the outer edges of the place.

“As for the Army of Western Oregon, it’s had a harder slog, as the best, most competent, most expeditionary of forces of the PAS are facing it, but even so, the Reds have been caught between us and the local defense forces. The morale of the local militia has been greatly increased by our presence, of course. The air strikes have also critically weakened the operational capabilities of the enemy forces in both cities. They have precious little with which to counter our air supremacy, after all,” Katrina briefed me on the current status of the Sacramento River War, as I had taken to calling it.

“Well, then, it seems that we’d better get busy with our post-war plans for the place. Any news on the diplomatic front?” I asked aloud in response.

“Well, yes ... a number of smaller to medium-sized communities in central California have approached us about likely annexation, though no overtures from San Francisco, Oakland, or Berkeley yet. If we can isolate them, though, I think that they’ll have little choice but to come around, if not sooner. Our response to the Sacramento River War has definitely brought home to them that we’re a real force, can project our power, and we’re here to stay. Ignore us at your peril, right?” Cherry told me while we groped each other ... and Katrina.

“Some of these leaders are stubborn and reluctant to admit that things have changed, geopolitically, but they will be confronted by reality, sooner rather than later. It is, quite frankly, an inescapable conclusion that Haven is the most dynamic of the North American successor states by far. Our beloved Commonwealth is increasingly absorbing Alaska, British Columbia, northern Idaho, northern Nevada, and northern California as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories. We have a concluded and ratified treaty with the Kingdom of Hawaii and several indigenous tribes in the Pacific Northwest, with the number of First Nations bodies on the wax rather than the wane. It will be very difficult for the self-governing city-states of the rest of California to bury their heads in the proverbial sand for much longer,” Marcy assured me with her appraisal of the situation.

“We also have the Treaty of Ely with what has now been formally renamed the Republic of South Nevada. There have been some rudimentary steps toward some kind of mutual understanding with the Restored Nation of Deseret, of course. It’s a slower crawl for now, but perhaps the recent events in California will light fires under some Mormon feet. We’re having a bit more success with the Democratic Republic of Sonora and Aztlan. Evidently, they can see the potential benefits of closer ties with us, strategically, of course,” Stephanie related more useful points, even as an aide from the Undead Guard, a twinkish fellow clad in his birthday suit and having a broadsword strapped to his back, handed Katrina some kind of note.

“Well, well, it seems that the People’s Army of Sacramento is attempting to withdraw to Sacramento itself and regroup or something, but they are being harassed on all sides, from both local militia and partisans, as well as the Army of Western Oregon. We can apparently cut them off completely from their retreat if you wish, but that’s your call, boss,” Katrina told me, the eagerness to crush the enemy showing in her eyes.