Free Dispatches by Steven Konkoly Page A

half,” said Richards.
    “We need to get that fixed. Should be relatively simple with the right parts,” said Grady.
    “That’s the problem. We don’t exactly have access to the Army supply system,” said Richards.
    “I might be able to work something out,” said Grady, stopping at the door. “Is your commanding officer present?”
    “You’re looking at him, sir. Major Don Richards. Former battalion S-3,” said Richards. “Our CO was on vacation with his family in Colorado. Camping trip. The XO was at a family reunion in Wells. They rented two big houses side by side on the beach. We haven’t heard from either of them.”
    Grady shook his head.
    “Everything between the beach and Route One in Wells was swept inland by the tsunami. Few survived.”
    “That’s what we heard. The governor officially appointed me as battalion commander a few days after the event,” said Richards. “We’ve been scrambling ever since.”
    “So…what am I walking into here, Major?”
    “The governor has no intention of recognizing the RRZ’s authority in the state.”
    “That’s not really a debatable point. The president activated the National Recovery Plan, which clearly establishes RRZ authority over local government and defines the roles for each entity,” Grady explained. “Security is an RRZ function—like it or not.”
    “She doesn’t recognize the 2015 Defense Authorization Bill. Her staff will argue that your presence—the RRZ’s presence— is a violation of the Insurrection Act,” said Richards.
    “It’s a little late for that argument,” said Grady. “I hope there’s more to this meeting than a constitutional debate.”
    “There is,” said Richards. “Though I can’t guarantee you’ll like what she has to offer.”
    “Offer?” asked Grady, opening the door. “This should be interesting.”
    Governor Dague was waiting for them in a small conference room on the ground level. The governor was dressed in a thick red winter jacket and winter cap, sporting a worn pair of waterproof boots made famous by one of Maine’s premier outfitter companies. She looked like someone you’d expect to find ringing a Salvation Army bell in front of a grocery instead of a state governor, but looks could be deceiving in Maine. Dague, a career state prosecutor, was rumored to be hell on wheels in a negotiation, and downright cutthroat when the cards were stacked in her favor.
    Grady walked around the conference table to shake the governor’s hand.
    “Lieutenant Colonel Sean Grady, ma’am. It’s an honor and a surprise to meet you,” he said.
    “Not a pleasure?” she asked, shaking his hand firmly.
    “Under the circumstances, that remains to be seen,” said Grady.
    “Please take a seat, gentlemen,” she said, pulling a chair out for herself.
    “I can see my breath in here. No heat in this building?” said Grady.
    “Every drop of fuel that comes into this port goes to the people of Maine. Hospitals, shelters, health clinics, and public safety. This has been my top priority as governor,” she said. “RRZ fuel demands have severely undercut these efforts. It’s too early to tell, but we estimate that thousands of Mainers died of starvation or exposure during the winter. It’s hard to explain why homes couldn’t be heated and food wasn’t distributed because the federal government needed to maintain twenty-four-hour helicopter coverage over FEMA camps in New Hampshire. Camps receiving food originating in Maine.”
    “Ma’am, your reputation precedes you, so I’m not even going to pretend you don’t know that our helicopters, along with all of our vehicles, run on JP-8, not home heating oil,” said Grady.
    “Nice try, Colonel, but I know JP-8 is essentially a kerosene-based fuel and can be used in kerosene heaters. I’ve seen studies suggesting it can be safely used in heating boilers. I believe the Air Force looked into this in the early nineties. We’re pretty savvy around here when it