The Battle for Terra Two by Stephen Ames Berry

Actually, it was to convince you to go, Heather. Boston's burning as a result. You better say yes."
    "Choppers!" someone shouted from the wall. "Army choppers! Headed this way."
    "Now or never, Heather."

7
    Germany has the bomb. Russia has the bomb. They guard it jealously and watch each other warily.
    America has poverty, ignorance and class warfare. It is a mercantile fief of the Fourth Reich, with an economy based on the export of raw materials, the import of finished and semi-finished goods. American draftees—those who cannot afford to pay a stand in—fight for German foreign policy in a dozen countries. Coming home, they can join the Urban Corps, the gangs, or, if fortunate, win a service job in the burbs.
    —Harrison, ibid., p. 169
     
    Aldridge's chopper was barely down before he was out, heading for Maximus's one-story Admin building.
    The sandbagged entrance was deserted save for two black-sweatered British soldiers. Inspecting his ID, they saluted, waving him past.
    "Get Fwolkes up," Aldridge ordered, identifying himself to the sleepy-eyed QIC, a competent-looking brunette in her midtwenties, with captain's pips and parachutist's badge. Nodding curtly, she picked up the phone.
    Brigadier Charles Wesley Fwolkes arrived in five minutes, every inch the British officer, despite the hour: olive tunic and red-striped pants neatly pressed, brown shoes gleaming under the fluorescents, swagger stick tucked under his left arm, red-banded cap at just the right angle. He might have been inspecting Parade at Sandhurst. Only his graying moustache betrayed concern, twitching as he returned Aldridge's salute. "Bloody hell, Colonel," he complained. "0330 on a Sunday? This better be good."
    "Rather." Aldridge's mimicry of the other's accent was flawless. Bristling, Fwolkes opened his mouth, only to be ridden down by the UC officer. "In the past twenty-four hours, Brigadier," he said, sweating in the humid, overheated room, "I've seen my command decimated and my headquarters razed. I've been compelled to destroy one of our major cities in order to save it. Imagine how I feel about your beauty sleep."
    Fwolkes tried to interject again, face flushed. Aldridge would have none of it. "Go to full alert, Brigadier. You're about to be attacked by a thousand well-armed, ably-led gangers."
    "You have no authority here, Aldridge. And you could have radioed, as you normally do. Just what are your reasons for this extraordinary request? Do you know what a full alert costs the taxpayers?"
    "Radio transmissions can be intercepted, Fwolkes. I am never wrong, given a bare minimum of data. And I don't care about the taxpayers. As to my authority ..." Extracting a small leather case from his breast pocket, he passed it to the brigadier. "I am Grand Admiral Hans Christian Hochmeister, Reich Security Administrator and Chairman of Alliance Intelligence. This officer," he indicated zur Linde, just entering, "is Captain Erich zur Linde of the Abwehr.
    "Now, sir, will you stand to." It wasn't a question.
    Fwolkes swallowed hard. "I shall have to confirm, sir," he said hesitantly, returning the ID and touching swagger stick to hat visor, saluting a legend. "Until then, though ..."
    He turned to the OIC. "Captain Mathieson, stand to, if you will. And someone get me a message pad," he added, as the alert sirens wailed.
    Maximus was ready in five minutes, battened down and waiting. Reviewing the status board and TV monitors, Hochmeister nodded approval. "Excellent, Brigadier, excellent."
    "Why, thank you, sir," said Fwolkes.
    "I'd like Hauptmann zur Linde and you to accompany me on an inspection of your defenses."
    "Very good, sir," nodded Fwolkes. "We must stay inside the perimeter." He pointed at the ground radar screen on which red blips were spreading like a pox. "And my apologies, Admiral. You were right. Hostiles approaching. It's going to get hot out there."
    Hochmeister smiled thinly. "Good to see the old master hasn't lost his touch." He led them