Harlequin walked into fort Clinton, doing his top to close out the cries of the wounded who’d been dragged inside of, tended to via squaddies utilizing what scraps of scientific education they’d bought in boot camp. A unmarried informed medic moved between them, pointing, educating, barking orders. Harlequin slumped within the steel folding chair sooner than the VTC computer screen. Gatanas’s eyes widened. “What the hell occurred? ” “Whispering, sir. We simply scraped by way of. ” “A pack of animals? ” Harlequin was once too drained to awaken anger. “A relatively huge pack, sir. uncertain what the precise casualty count number is, yet it’d be confident to name us at part power. ” “Can you carry? ” “We can rattling good try out, sir. i would like extra Sorcerers, i want extra infantrymen. i want basic Bookbinder. ” “It’s all inbound, Lieutenant Colonel. you simply have to cling on. ” Harlequin didn’t even hassle attempting to continue the incredulity off his face. “And the Québécois? Their famed Loup-Garous? ” Gatanas sighed. “You haven’t obvious the scoop. ” “We don’t precisely have loads of time for television in recent years, sir. I’m afraid my intel section’s a bit mild. ” Gatanas nodded. Leaned ahead, tapped away at his keyboard. A small cutaway seemed within the lower-left-hand nook of Harlequin’s display. A fats guy with thick jowls and thinning hair stood in the back of a podium, purple-faced. He hammered the faux-wood floor with one meaty finger, his string tie flying. SENATOR DONALD LOVEWELL, the caption learn, KENTUCKY. “. . . and now we're to be brought through allowing overseas troops on American soil. and never simply any physique of international troops, no! Probes. we're to absolutely forget about the tenets of the McGauer-Linden Act and make universal reason with a country whose personal political prestige is an issue of a few debate. we're to welcome the satan himself into our monetary heart? it's time to ask ourselves, are we a state of legislation? Will the president easily flout the principles made by means of the elected representatives of the folk just because he reveals it expedient? As i'm a servant of God almighty, i can't lie down for this. the folks of Kentucky elected me to steer! And that implies . . . ” “Shut it off, sir. i am getting the purpose. ” Gatanas tapped a key and the monitor inset disappeared. “I imagine this is often everywhere in the net? ” “It’s long gone viral. i believe that’s the time period they use. Lovewell’s getting loads of help from a large move part of the inhabitants. ” “Not from New Yorkers, i think. ” “Kind of tough to ballot them, simply now. ” “Any response from the Québécois? ” “They’re bringing up . . . logistical issues. They nonetheless say they’re coming, yet they worry they're not on time. ” “They’re no longer coming. ” “I wouldn’t g . . . ” “Sir, please. I simply misplaced part my unit. Is aid inbound or isn’t it? ” Gatanas was once silent. Harlequin sighed and stood. “There should be . . . major delays on your reduction. The Mescalero evolution is turning into . . . complex. ” “Understood, sir. Harlequin out. ” “Now wait only a . . . ” Harlequin broke the relationship and walked again outdoors, pausing to snatch a bottle of water and a granola bar from the dwindling offer in stacked cardboard containers alongside the entryway.