His mind now moved on to an issue that was never far from his conscious thoughts. Someplace out there he had a son. Where he was, what he was doing, and how long he could last were questions that were beginning to cloud his judgment more than he dared admit even to himself. Scott found that it took every ounce of willpower he had to focus on his duties and keep from using his position as a division commander to pursue a purely personal agenda. He was even beginning to question his decisions. As he listened to the wind Scott wondered if his insistence on attacking the Guard here and now was because that was the sound military course to pursue, or if his drive to press forward was being motivated by his need as a father to do everything within his power to save his son regardless of the cost.

Unable to resolve this conundrum, Scott finally turned around, let his arms fall to his side, and faced his officers. “People,” he stated in unusually sharp voice, “we came into Idaho huffing and puffing and threatening to blow the National Guard down. Until now we have gone out of our way to avoid bloodshed in the hope that somehow our political leaders could find a less violent way to end this.”

Scott paused a moment as he glanced over his shoulder and looked back at the Guard positions one more time. In the distance he could see clouds of dust being thrown up by earth moving equipment digging defensive positions along the lip of the mesa across the way. They were still there, he told himself. He had no choice. He had no other option. They had thrown down a gauntlet at his feet and now it was his duty to pick it up and accept the challenge as well as all the consequences that doing so would entail.

Looking back at his senior commanders and staff officers, Scott gathered himself up. When he spoke his words were as sharp and cutting as the wind. “Tomorrow we attack. We will cross the flats before us, ascend the high ground over there, and smash all opposition before us. In doing so I want nothing held back. I want every weapon, every soldier, every resource within this division brought to bear against the enemy. Let no one hold back. Let no one hesitate. When we go forward, we go with but one purpose in mind, to crush the Idaho National Guard.”