to work. No way in hell.”
“My men were promised land. I was promised land! Land, and citizenship. What are your government’s promises, empty wind?”
“You were never promised land in Tennessee. This county is not the end of your mission tasking, Colonel. We have more important missions for your battalion before you will receive your permanent land titles.”
Jibek made a sweeping gesture with his riding crop at the hundreds of acres of rolling fields and woods surrounding them. “So this estate, the horses…are not mine to keep, as I was understanding? Pity. I’ve grown, how do you say…rather fond of the place.”
“I’m sure you have, but it’s not going to be yours for much longer. Your battalion has been tasked with population evacuation and relocation operations in Western Tennessee. Once this region is pacified, your battalion will be heading far to the west. The Mexicans will be adequate to hold what you have gained for us in Tennessee, but your mission here has not yet been finished. You need to bring your men back into fighting form. You need to get them back into training for war, not games. You need to get them ready for more operations now, not sometime later.”
“Ah, my dear General Blair, you must understand…that is not Kazak way. Kazak men must see rewards along path. I promise you, we will be ready for more operations in spring. Until then…”
“Listen Colonel: don’t forget who provides the fuel for your trucks and your generators. Don’t forget who provides you with the overhead images and videos that let you know where to find the rebels, and the helicopters that allow you to catch them. I don’t think you understand your position—”
“Nor do you understand my position! I have told you, my battalion will be ready for new operation— in time of spring .”
“That’s not soon enough; we have a schedule of operations to keep. I’ll stop your fuel allotments; I’ll stop your helicopters. And I’ll let the Mexicans have this farm.”
Colonel Jibek stood face to face with Bullard, slapping his riding crop against his leg. “We don’t need your supplies or your helicopters; we are capable of sustaining ourselves. We are not soft like you Americans. My men are hard like steel. They can take whatever they need, or do without. As far as Mexicans taking this farm, well, send them—and let them try .”
Bullard contained his reaction to the Kazak’s rising anger. “That’s your final answer? You need a few months of rest and recuperation before beginning a new phase of operations?”
“Yes, that is correct. I have many friends in Washington, very high in Department of State. They have given me explicit guarantee that my battalion will not be overtasked with missions. In fact, the Assistant Secretary of State gave me such as promise in writing on paper before even we came to Tennessee. Would you like to see document? We have already performed above our part of agreement.”
“The State Department, huh? Well, why didn’t you say so?” Bullard put his hands up in apparent resignation. “Well, I guess I know when I’ve lost an argument. Okay Colonel, you win, have it your way. Keep me informed, and let me know when your battalion is ready. But in the meantime, if I send you some small mission taskings, the occasional ambush or rebel farm liquidation, do you think perhaps you could work them into your training schedule?”
“Well, of course, General Blair, I am a reasonable man. Are you sure you won’t try cup of fresh kumis ?”
“Maybe next time.” Bullard turned and walked back to his helicopter, still surrounded by his bodyguards. Colonel Jibek hissed an order to his trailing adjutant, and another lackey brought his white stallion up by its reins. Jibek mounted with a flourish, whipped his mount, and tore off at a gallop to where dozens of his men were still
“My men were promised land. I was promised land! Land, and citizenship. What are your government’s promises, empty wind?”
“You were never promised land in Tennessee. This county is not the end of your mission tasking, Colonel. We have more important missions for your battalion before you will receive your permanent land titles.”
Jibek made a sweeping gesture with his riding crop at the hundreds of acres of rolling fields and woods surrounding them. “So this estate, the horses…are not mine to keep, as I was understanding? Pity. I’ve grown, how do you say…rather fond of the place.”
“I’m sure you have, but it’s not going to be yours for much longer. Your battalion has been tasked with population evacuation and relocation operations in Western Tennessee. Once this region is pacified, your battalion will be heading far to the west. The Mexicans will be adequate to hold what you have gained for us in Tennessee, but your mission here has not yet been finished. You need to bring your men back into fighting form. You need to get them back into training for war, not games. You need to get them ready for more operations now, not sometime later.”
“Ah, my dear General Blair, you must understand…that is not Kazak way. Kazak men must see rewards along path. I promise you, we will be ready for more operations in spring. Until then…”
“Listen Colonel: don’t forget who provides the fuel for your trucks and your generators. Don’t forget who provides you with the overhead images and videos that let you know where to find the rebels, and the helicopters that allow you to catch them. I don’t think you understand your position—”
“Nor do you understand my position! I have told you, my battalion will be ready for new operation— in time of spring .”
“That’s not soon enough; we have a schedule of operations to keep. I’ll stop your fuel allotments; I’ll stop your helicopters. And I’ll let the Mexicans have this farm.”
Colonel Jibek stood face to face with Bullard, slapping his riding crop against his leg. “We don’t need your supplies or your helicopters; we are capable of sustaining ourselves. We are not soft like you Americans. My men are hard like steel. They can take whatever they need, or do without. As far as Mexicans taking this farm, well, send them—and let them try .”
Bullard contained his reaction to the Kazak’s rising anger. “That’s your final answer? You need a few months of rest and recuperation before beginning a new phase of operations?”
“Yes, that is correct. I have many friends in Washington, very high in Department of State. They have given me explicit guarantee that my battalion will not be overtasked with missions. In fact, the Assistant Secretary of State gave me such as promise in writing on paper before even we came to Tennessee. Would you like to see document? We have already performed above our part of agreement.”
“The State Department, huh? Well, why didn’t you say so?” Bullard put his hands up in apparent resignation. “Well, I guess I know when I’ve lost an argument. Okay Colonel, you win, have it your way. Keep me informed, and let me know when your battalion is ready. But in the meantime, if I send you some small mission taskings, the occasional ambush or rebel farm liquidation, do you think perhaps you could work them into your training schedule?”
“Well, of course, General Blair, I am a reasonable man. Are you sure you won’t try cup of fresh kumis ?”
“Maybe next time.” Bullard turned and walked back to his helicopter, still surrounded by his bodyguards. Colonel Jibek hissed an order to his trailing adjutant, and another lackey brought his white stallion up by its reins. Jibek mounted with a flourish, whipped his mount, and tore off at a gallop to where dozens of his men were still
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