May 27, 1998
The federal civilian government ceases to exist. The Joint Chiefs of Staff assume de facto control of the remainder of the executive branch.
Unofficially,
MacDowell wastes no time consolidating his new command. He abandons Cape Cod wholesale, taking everything and everyone of value from the Massachusetts Military Reserve. MacDowell even manages to scoop up a number of Coast Guard Auxiliary and Coast Guard Reservists who have been operating under Holsbirger's orders. Holsbirger is furious, but there is nothing he can do except hang onto everything he has left after MacDowell makes his grab.
The Soviet 16th Army, its fuel tanks refilled with Romanian diesel, launches an operation to drive the US VII Corps out of Ansbach. Its 57th Guards Motor Rifle Division launches a dawn attack on the outposts of the 1st and 36th Infantry Divisions, supported by the artillery of the 93rd Guards Motor-Rifle Division and the 168th Artillery Brigade. The American corps commander brings reserve companies into the town from outlying positions to the east and west of the city, relying on the scouts of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment to screen his flanks.
CIA agent David Hudson is escorted aboard another small craft in the fishing port of Klädesholmen, Sweden, which sets sail after dark. Once out of territorial waters the craft is revealed as a CIA high speed transport craft, fitted with a pair of powerful diesel engines that propel the craft at 30 knots west.
Captain Christensen of the replica USS Constitution trades some of her stash of diamonds for a towed 20mm PIVAD gun and 15 .50-caliber M2HB machineguns.
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I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... victory. Someday this war's gonna end...
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