Installment 4.16: Disinformation and a Change of Pace

---For Immediate Release to the Media---

Cali forces continue pacifying rebel held areas of the Central Valley.

Invasion of rebel strong-holds of SD-LA has been rescheduled as Cali forces prioritize humanitarian missions while waiting for link-up of all battle groups.

---End Release---

The interest rates of the benchmark ten year bonds jumped to 6.5% and then to 7.5% as investors read between the lines.

***

McDevitt listened to the war-room members go around and around and around.  The topic involved the economy and printing currency and welfare and….

About the third time the argument circled around to the starting point McDevitt quietly observed, “You guys are over-thinking this.  It is not that hard.”

McDevitt’s comment stopped everybody dead in their tracks.

“What do you mean?” one of the cabinet members asked.  “One of the functions of government is to run the economy and that is complicated.”

“The economy is not ours to run.  Give everybody $100.  Tell them there will be no more money and everything will work out fine.” McDevitt said.

“Bullshit!  What happens when they run out of money?”

***

The last battle group arrived in Mettler, California eight days after leaving Sacramento.  They had the advantage of established campsites.  They also made the executive decision to press on regardless.  They were given thirty-six hours of downtime before the main battle of San Gabriel Pass started.

The medics performed triage.  Approximately one-third of the soldiers were totally non-ambulatory.  They were left in the camp with a skeleton support staff.

Approximately one-third were minimally functional.  They manned the vehicles and weapons.

Approximately one-third were out of mortal peril and were recovering but were not able to contribute.  They were loaded into buses with the expectation that they could contribute once the invasion had linked up with the Federal Cali forces in SD-LA.

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