“Yes, reconciliation,” Ben said. “Thanks, Grant.”
“So,” Ben continued, “there’s a political and military need for reconciliation. I have brought together my political and military people to try to solve it. Suggestions?” He looked at General Roswell, Lt. Col. Hammond, Tom, and Brian.
General Roswell spoke up. “Sir, from a military perspective, we need to have a plan and issue orders down to every soldier and our civilian sympathizers making it clear that we won’t kill prisoners and collaborators. We then need to have a method for processing prisoners and collaborators, to find out which ones are truly bad guys and which ones don’t need to be punished. We have a system in place for collecting and interrogating prisoners; that’s standard military protocol. But we need a way to take it one step further: punish the bad ones and let the good ones go, but with some conditions.”
“On the political side,” Tom said after a brief pause, “we need this reconciliation process to be fair. The public has to believe in it. We can’t be too harsh on the Loyalists or too lenient. We can’t favor Patriots who committed war crimes, either. People will be expecting us to let ‘our guys’ go even if they did bad things. But we can’t be too harsh on our guys who were put in tough situations.”
“And,” Ben said, “on the legal side, the Governor has the power to pardon under the old constitution. I’m sure we’ll keep that part in the con con.” Grant quietly assumed that “Con con” must be a constitutional convention. Before the war, Ben and Grant had dreamed about a con con to fix all the bad things that were being done.
“Yes, sir,” Gen. Roswell said, “You can pardon people. Everything that was done was a state crime. I guess they were federal crimes, too, but we’re not part of that federal union anymore, if it even still exists. You have the power to pardon state crimes. That’s how we can do this.”
“We set up a Governor’s commission of some kind,” Brian said “that determines who should be pardoned and who should be prosecuted. Civil prosecutions, I presume?”
Gen. Roswell nodded. “Technically, we might be able to do this with military tribunals, but…” he paused, “look how the Limas used those. Everyone they disagreed with was an ‘enemy combatant,’ even American citizens whose only crime was disagreeing with them. I highly recommend against military tribunals, sir,” Gen. Roswell said, as he looked at Ben.
“No military tribunals,” Ben confirmed. “Nope. Not after what those turned in to. I can’t reassure the population that I’m a constitutional reformer and then do something like that. Nope. Civilian trials only.”
Ben paused and thought about what all that entailed. Juries, court rooms, prosecutors, defense attorneys, rules of evidence. “Civilian trials will be a big pain in the ass, but it will be constitutional. We have to be the models of decency, gentlemen. Everyone will be expecting us to be just like the old guys. They’ll be chomping at the bit to call us hypocrites. We won’t give them that chance. We didn’t fight this war and go through all this crap only to end up being just like them.”
It was silent in the room. Grant felt so grateful Ben had just made such a statement. Thank God.
“So a civilian commission to recommend pardons of state crimes is what we’re thinking?” Brian asked.
Everyone thought about it.
Gen. Roswell was the first to speak up. “I can see that working,” he said. “Obviously, our military people will have a role in getting prisoners and collaborators to a secure setting. Then the civilian commission people can work with our military intelligence units to figure out who the bad guys are. Then the civilian commission can do its thing and have trials for the really bad ones. The not so bad ones can be given pardons. It should work.”
“I foresee lots of pardons,” Grant said. “It will be hard to prove many of these crimes. If we have a full-blown trial for every crime, we would have to have hundreds of judges and thousands of jurors going at any given time. When, instead, people should be working to rebuild the economy. There’s a huge ‘forgive and forget’ factor to all of this. Many pardons will foster that.”
“But not too many,” Tom said. “The bastards who did this,” he said pointing to some burn marks along the window frames of his former office, “they shouldn’t get off scot free.”
“True,” Grant said, arguing a little with his old boss. “But how many resources do you devote to figuring out who did this and then giving them a jury trial? Wouldn’t those resources be better spent on fixing the window frames?”
Everyone nodded. Grant used the perfect analogy at the perfect time. He knew that brilliant thought didn’t come from him. He was just the medium through which brilliant things were happening right now. It felt awesome.
“That’s exactly the spirit I need,” Ben said. “Grant, you will chair the Reconciliation Commission.”
What? Grant felt a surge of surprise come over him although the announcement was also what he was expecting would happen.
“Of course, Governor,” Grant said matter-of-factly. The biggest honor of his life was just a simple, “You bet, Ben” kind of answer.
“From what I’ve heard about Lt. Matson’s past performance in his little community,” Gen. Roswell said, looking over at Lt. Col. Hammond, who was nodding, “I think he’ll do a fine job. He obviously has your trust, Governor.”
Ben nodded. “That’s an understatement,” he said.
“When do I get started?” Grant asked Ben, knowing the answer.
“Now,” Ben said.
“I kinda thought so,” Grant said.
“We’ll work out the details,” Gen. Roswell said. “Lt. Matson will have all the military assets he needs.” Grant had a rough idea how he would take up the General on that offer. Grant’s reconciliation commission staff would be fed, housed, and protected by the military. Grant would have a personal security detail made up of … who else? The Team.
Ben stood up at his desk, signaling that it was time to go. That’s what powerful people do and Ben fit the role perfectly. Everyone who was sitting stood up. Gen. Roswell and Lt. Col. Hammond snapped to attention.
“Hate to end this, gentlemen,” Ben said, “but I have a bunch of other meetings right now. Not as enjoyable as this one, I might add.” Everyone was shuffling out of the office, except Tom and Brian who seemed to have permanent seats on the couch there.
Ben turned to Grant and said, “Hey, Grant, you remember the 2005 Super Bowl?”
“Of course,” Grant said with a huge smile. “Never thought it would happen … Governor.”
Chapter 321
New Washington
(January 3)
As Grant left Ben’s office after that amazing experience he felt naked. He realized why. He didn’t have his rifle. He’d had it twenty-four hours a day for days now. He sought out the captain who was holding it by the reception area, and was happy to be reunited with it. “We have some things to talk about,” Gen. Roswell said to Grant, and motioned for him to go into a nearby conference room. Grant followed him with his rifle. Ah. It felt so good to have it back. His right thumb could rest on that safety which was very calming.
Once they were in the conference room, Grant stood until Gen. Roswell said, “At ease.” Gen. Roswell was deferential in Ben’s office, but was in full command in that conference room.
“Glad to have you on board,” he began. “Seriously. Colonel Hammond has told me some great things. And you have a long history with Gov. Trenton, so you’ll be perfect for this job. This very difficult job, I might add.”
Grant nodded. It was slowly sinking into him just how hard this reconciliation thing would be, but he knew he needed to do it. So much groundwork had been laid to make this happen that it was unthinkable to not go ahead and do it. Grant couldn’t disappoint the outside thought. Plus, he knew that he could expect miracles. Grant couldn’t possibly pull off this reconciliation thing alone, but God could. It would be a piece of cake for Him.
Gen. Roswell and Lt. Col. Hammond talked to Grant about logistics and chain of command. There weren’t a lot of organizational charts in a fluid situation like this. Basically, Grant would be in charge of the 17th and would use it to do his preliminary Reconciliation Commission work like investigating the crimes of prisoners until the Commission was formally established by the Interim Legislature. Once that happened, Grant and the Team would resign from the Washington State Guard and become civilian Commission staff acting under the authority of the Governor to help him carry out his pardon powers.
In the meantime, Grant would report directly to the General. However, he would have the unusual power of working directly with the Governor’s staff. It was unheard of for a lieutenant to have direct access to the commander in chief like the Governor, but in this case, it made sense. Grant working with the Governor’s staff, while still reporting directly to the General, allowed Gen. Roswell to stay in the loop when Grant interacted with the General’s boss, the Governor. It was a perfect arrangement in this situation.
Grant saw the existence of Seattle as a huge factor in the reconciliation work. “I take it, General,” Grant said, “that the plan is not to immediately take Seattle.”
Gen. Roswell laughed. “Oh, hell no,” he said. “Maybe never. Let that place rot. I’m not wasting a single soldier on that pile of shit.”
“We have enough on our hands in the rest of New Washington,” Lt. Col. Hammond said.
New Washington? What was that?
“New Washington, sir?” Grant asked.
Hammond smiled. “Oh, you haven’t heard? That’s the name of the state you’re in right now. We were calling it ‘Free Washington,’ but now it’s ‘New Washington.’ New Washington is old Washington minus the Seattle area. It’s ours now.”
New Washington. That said it all. It was “new.” And “Washington,” as in George Washington, who had to rebuild after a war that divided the people.
“New Washington” was even more symbolic of the times and what was needed now. A new person was needed to rebuild after this latest war dividing people. Grant wasn’t the new George Washington—Grant did not provide the military strategy for victory like Washington did—but maybe Ben would be the new George Washington. Grant could at least help Ben be the new George Washington.
Grant needed to get back to business. He didn’t want to waste the General’s time with history or philosophy.
“From my limited perspective,” Grant said, “I love the fact that Seattle is there and the bad guys will go there. Get them the hell out of here, especially the gangs. Let them go do their thing in Seattle. It will cause Seattle to collapse even quicker.” Grant felt bad basically wishing another wave of murder, rape, and thuggery on the people of Seattle, but they’d had plenty of chances to leave there in the past. For whatever reasons, they stayed and didn’t overthrow that government. People get the governments they deserve.
“I don’t want enemy assets to escape,” Gen. Roswell said and Lt. Col. Hammond nodded. Letting a weakened enemy just leave went against all their military training.
“Could we open up I-5 and let them just leave?” Grant asked. “I know that’s unorthodox, sir, but it would make things go a lot smoother here in…” Grant paused to say it, “New Washington.” It sounded so weird.
“I’ll have to think about it, Lieutenant,” Gen. Roswell said. “I see your point, but it’s been drilled into me not to let the enemy escape.” Grant could tell that his suggestion was going to be disregarded. Oh well. Grant’s job was to give suggestions, and he never claimed to be an expert in military strategy. If the enemy wasn’t allowed to retreat to Seattle, Grant would just deal with the increase in bad guys for him to process on the Reconciliation Commission.
“Anything else I need to think about?” Gen. Roswell asked.
“I have experienced some initial resistance among some regular military officers to the reconciliation approach,” Grant said.
Lt. Col. Hammond nodded his head, “Lt. Col. Brussels, CO of 3rd Battalion, didn’t like the pamphlet Grant made about people turning themselves in and being considered for pardons.”
“You issued that pamphlet before our meeting with the Governor?” Gen. Roswell asked.
“Yes, sir,” Grant said, as confidently as possible.
“Lucky for you,” Gen. Roswell said with a smile, “that ended up being the Governor’s policy.” He paused and said, “I recognize that you’re new to the military.” He said because it was true and to remind Grant not to do something like that while he was under his command.
“Sir,” Grant asked, “could you let the leadership of the regular military know that reconciliation is the policy?”
“I will issue a very explicit order,” Gen. Roswell said. “All my orders are explicit, but they are especially so when they detail something the Governor wants to have happen.”
Gen. Roswell stood up. Grant and Lt. Col. Hammond stood up, too.
“Anything else?” Gen. Roswell asked. It was obviously time to go.
“No, sir,” Grant said.
“We’re adjourned here,” Gen. Roswell said and started to walk out. He suddenly stopped and turned to Grant.
“Lt. Matson, you know how important this reconciliation thing is, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” Grant said.
“So do I,” Gen. Roswell said. “For months now, my staff and I, including Colonel Hammond here, have been talking about the French Revolution and how to prevent that outcome here. I just about fell over when I was chatting with the Governor a few minutes before you arrived and he said you and he had talked about the French Revolution before the Collapse. Right then I knew you were the right man for this job.”