To the sound tech’s surprise, Jan responded that she would be happy to accept his kind invitation. “Old GO,” Jan explained after she clicked the cell phone off, “just might provide us with a few missing pieces, vis à vis the militia. Besides,” Jan added as she tried to laugh off the invitation, “it beats having dinner with you two again.”

The sound tech was unconvinced. “That depends on who the main course is.”

With an expression that belied her own apprehensions, Jan tried to wave her overprotective sound tech off. “Oh, I’ve dealt with worse,” the journalist mused as she turned back to continue editing the video before them.

The sound tech shook his head. Like everyone in Boise, he was becoming more and more convinced that nothing, no matter how outrageous, was now beyond the pale.

Hanging up the phone, Thomas tried hard not to show the strain he was finally beginning to feel. Looking across the room at the two men before him, GO grunted. “The militia will get their ammunition. Orders will be cut tonight authorizing the distribution of ammo and weapons not required by the Guard to those units you have certified and will need to augment the state police.”

For the first time since he entered the governor’s officer, Attorney General Osborn permitted a smile to crease his face. “I assure you, GO, only those units that I personally approve and which are willing to submit to state authority will be sworn in.”

GO nodded. “Choose wisely, Tom,” GO admonished his Attorney General. “The other governors in the coalition and our friends across the nation are already getting nervous over the manner in which things are going. The last thing we need is to have neo-Nazis, skin heads, and the KKK wrapping themselves in our banners.”

Osborn stood up. “Like I said, I will personally see that only the cream of the crop will be added to the state rolls.” With that, he turned to leave, but stopped before he had taken a step. “And that female officer at the ammo site?”

Frustrated by having to deal with such a trivial matter, GO raised his hand and waved it as if he were swatting a bothersome fly. “She’s history. The Adjutant General himself has promised me that Lieutenant Colonel Kozak will be replaced.”

“That’s not good enough,” Osborn came back. “I want her drawn and quartered.”