Martinez took off his helm and handed it to an aide, walking over to the map.
“Have Major Lowell bring them up,” he said, pointing to a great thrusting arrow that was moving across the Potomac from Virginia using the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The river cut a wide swath from northwest to southeast splitting the district from Virginia. Three bridges spanned its murky waters in the area General Hinds had chosen to attack, which was frankly the closest approach to the White House from outside the city. According to the map, though, enemies controlled Roosevelt Island, just north of Arlington Memorial Bridge, and were blocking a friendly column on the Interstate 66 Bridge that crossed the island. South of the Arlington Memorial, on the other side of the Pentagon, enemies had also halted a flanking maneuver to Gen. Hinds’ right, blocking the bridge over Interstate 365, including the HOV span and the CSX train tracks over the Potomac.
Martinez scratched his thick black hair, releasing a sigh of frustration, as if the situation hadn’t improved since he ran out to meet us.
“The SITREP is as follows,” he began for our benefit. “General Hinds has made it across the river with friendly forces, but rearward elements of his column are getting hell from a group of mecha that are operating from the southern point of Roosevelt Island, here.” He pointed at a trio of mecha-like drawings in grease pencil.
“We can take those out,” Templar said, earning a reproving look from Superdynamic.
“That would help,” Martinez chuckled. “But ahead of the General are massed elements including a half-dozen mech, and we’re not making much progress past the Lincoln Memorial. South and north, the flanking elements are totally stalled, and we’ve just had word that General Webb, on the 66, has had to retreat and regroup from heavy fire from all over Roosevelt Island. In the south, Colonel Wargacki still can’t get a single unit across the 395 due to heavy artillery enfilade from Potomac Park and the golf course.”
“How long ago did the offensive set out?” I asked
Martinez looked down at the map, as if ignoring the question, but a strange silence spread throughout the tent.
“We took the Pentagon last night,” he said, his eyes devoid of focus. “The General set out this morning at 0800 and encountered resistance as of 0845.”
“That’s almost twelve hours,” Moe said.
The colonel nodded.
“What about the White House?” Superdynamic asked.
“We last heard from them was at 1500 hours,” the colonel replied. “That’s six hours ago, to any of you civilians. They’re not responding, so I’m afraid their comm station might’ve been knocked out.”
“The first priority is the President,” Superdynamic said.
Martinez nodded. “Agreed. Flying you in is a hell of a risk, but I found a pilot crazy enough to do it.”
“We’ll do the piloting, Colonel,” Superdynamic said. “We don’t want to risk any of your men.”
The Colonel looked at Superdynamic for almost ten seconds before answering, “I appreciate that. In any case, I don’t think you’ll be able to get across the river. Take it or leave it, but I recommend circling the zone and coming in from the north while General Hinds has their attention to the southwest. I like this spot here, but that’s just my recommendation.”
We gathered in to look at his suggestion, which was a wide grassy point north of the city labeled National Zoological Park. The area was somewhat light with enemy units, but that assumed the intelligence was accurate.
“I’d head northeast around Tyson’s Corner, then head east to Chevy Chase, and make your turn to the south there. It should be far enough away from their AA, which is massed south in our faces. Once you land, you can come down Connecticut Avenue until you face their perimeter, which begins in earnest, here, around Dupont Circle.”
He looked up at Superdynamic.
“I’m giving you an MH-60 Stealth Black Hawk, like the ones we got Osama with. It’s the only stealth unit I have. It should help with conventional forces. As far as enemy supers go, you’re on your own.”
An aide got the Colonel’s attention and they discussed a paper for a moment, giving me a chance to stroll over to Superdynamic.
“The army guys are keeping us out, while the supers besiege the White House for the President,” I said.
He nodded. “What I just don’t get is how Zundergrub is doing it, how he’s controlling so many American soldiers.” I was about to respond, but he knew where I was going. “I