Chapter 1

       Warlock Loretta Young took off her headset and ran her fingers through her close cropped hair.  Everything was set!  Everybody was in position.  She had done all she could to prepare.  Now she could only wait.  Her second in command, Herbert Hess, approached with one of the news representatives attached to their unit.
      "Warlock!"  he asked, "Mr. Robinson with The BBC would like a few words.  Do you have time?" 
       The Warlock nodded.  "I must say," the reporter began, "aren't you a little old, ma'am, to be out in the field?  Haven't you fought enough battles?  What are you now, 72?"
     "Well, I still seem spry enough!"  the Warlock answered.  "You should see some of these young boys trying to keep up with me when I'm on the run!  I can still command in the field.  And The Speaker wanted somebody with experience out here.  We're still hoping it will go peacefully, but if it doesn't we'll have to deal with it."
     The reporter shook his head.  "The odds are that we're going in," he remarked, "that President Madadi will seize your peoples' properties and you'll have to cross the border into Mozambique to protect them.  Isn't that what The First Speaker's going to say in his speech?"
     "One never knows for sure WHAT The First Speaker is going to say,"  The Warlock answered,  "until he says it.  That's the thing with First Speakers!  But we'll know in about ten minutes.  If you'll excuse me I have to take care of some necessities before that happens, and I want to be ready when the speech comes."
     "Understandable!"  the reporter answered.  "Thank you for your time, Warlock!"
     The Warlock went to the nearest facilities.  When she was done she took up her favorite place in a rocking chair just outside the communications tent.  She checked her watch and looked to the young man on the radio.  He flicked a switch and a voice announced "This is Spiritist Military Radio.  Stand by.  The First Speaker is approaching the podium on The Hades' observation deck, now.  He is about to begin his address.  Here is The First Speaker!"
     A deep and somber voice began to speak.  "Citizens of The Republics, and our friends around the world, you all know why I am here speaking to you today.  For many years we of The Republics have been friends with the nation of Mozambique.  We have built many factories in that country. We provide jobs for many of its citizens.  Far off its coasts we have purchased six islands that we have made territories of The Republics, where peoples from several of our nations have established thriving colonies.  We are at peace with our neighbors.  We cause them no distress, we trade with them fairly.  If anything, we give them many advantages in trade.  There is no reason for our neighbors to be hostile to us!  Unfortunately, however, a government has risen in Mozambique that does not care about its people.  They have systematically stolen millions of dollars from the country's economy and put it on the brink of economic ruin!  A once thriving nation is now destitute and desperate.  They have even tried to force The Republics to pay bribes in order to bring relief supplies to their impoverished people.  Now seeking more to steal, the leader of this country has decided to blame us for all his troubles, to say that we have robbed and cheated his people, and taken what is rightfully theirs, that he intends to nationalize all our industries and give their profits to the people, take away from us all that we have built in these past years. 
     All ready some of our people have been attacked, even murdered!  And the local authorities refuse to take any action, saying they don't know who have committed these crimes, and cannot find out.  I tell you, here and now, this will not be tolerated.  If the people of this country wish us to leave we will leave.  We will pack up our factories, we will take our goods, and we will depart, and they can do what they wish.  But we will not allow them to steal what is ours, to injure our people, or, take their property.  If The President of Mozambique orders his forces to seize our properties and to seize our citizens our troops will cross his borders, secure our property and our citizens, and peacefully evacuate!  If they are interfered with they WILL eliminate all interference!  Anyone firing on them will be put down, and put down quickly.  We will not stay in Mozambique, we will only be there long enough to retrieve our property and, our citizens, dispense justice, and then depart.  We have no desire to hold any part of Mozambique that does not belong to us.  As soon as our job is done we will be gone!