The G-2 captain shook his head. “I don’t think so, sir. A police SWAT team saw the value of the position our people were occupying and moved in. The last we heard from the LRRP team was that they were moving to their alternate position.”

“How long before they’re in place?” the G-3 asked in turn.

The briefer shrugged. “Negative knowledge, sir. Things are pretty screwy around the capitol area right now.”

“Okay,” Felden stated by way of getting back to the main issue. “So who’s in there? And what do they want?”

Good commanders succeed because they plan well and are lucky. Great commanders make their mark because they intuitively know which opportunities to seize and which ones to pass on. Standing up, Scott walked over to the map, turned, and looked over at Felden. “It’s a platoon belonging to Company A, 517th Parachute Infantry,” he stated matter of factly.

Dumbfounded, Felden looked at the G-2, then the G-3 before turning back to gaze at Scott. He wanted to ask his commander how he knew that, but didn’t. Besides, there being no time for such a question, Felden had been in the Army long enough to appreciate the fact that generals tended to know things that mere mortals weren’t privy to.

Scott saw the look on his chief of staff’s face but said nothing. Instead, he began issuing orders. “It is critical that we do everything we can to assist those paratroopers. Joe,” he snapped, turning to the G-3, “crank up 1-9 Cav and order them to move out five minutes ago. I want two air assault companies saddled up and ready to pull pitch in twenty minutes. And put 1st Brigade on alert. They’re to have at least two battalions ready to roll with fifteen minutes notice. G-2,” he continued as he turned to face his intelligence officer. “Get an immediate update out to all units on the current situation in Boise as well as location and activity of all Guard forces between here and there.”

“What do you intend to do, sir?” Felden asked guardedly.

Caught short by this question, Scott was still groping about for an appropriate response when an excited captain rushed into the room from the G-2 section next door. “Sir,” she yelled to no one in particular. “I know you’re in a briefing and all, but the governor of Idaho is making a speech. I think he’s surrendering!”

WASHINGTON, DC 0705 (EASTERN), NOVEMBER 12

Though he was just as mystified by the turn of events that were unfolding before their eyes, the President knew a heavensent opportunity when he saw one. “Ed,” he stated firmly to his chief of staff. “We must go to Boise today.”