Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.
(William Wordsworth)
Yeah, not only that one had to fight a savage plague. No, these stupid Chinese had to add radioactive fallout and electronic breakdown to the vicious potpourri. The winter winds, like the Harmattan in the WAU, were carrying the radiative stuff down south; only the coastal part of Groß Togoland, southern Nigeria and most of Kamerun were protected by the south–eastern tradewind. – Radios gone haywire could be repaired or replaced, it only took some time to do it. Mercifully, Middle Africa was relying on fixed telephone lines and human operators, thus, the ongoing operations could continue despite wireless outage.
The English had sent a new commander–in–chief to Lagos. Max Sikuku had been briefed about General Brown by Abwehr and general staff. – It looked like cronyism: Brown and Prime Minister Wintringham had fought together in Spain; and Brown had a solid reputation for being true to party principles. Yet, Brown had been in charge of the English nuclear programme – and that was quite a success story. The specialists thought it unlikely that Brown, who had only had a concise elementary education, had been more than a figurehead. But Max wasn't convinced: the military – just like any business – was much about organisation. Most probably, Brown was an able organiser – and could make men do what she wanted. One didn't need an university degree or a general staff training for that; he himself and Otto Mwaya were ample proof of it.
In fact, Brown had quickly unburdened coordination procedures between Nigeria and Middle Africa. It wasn't easy still, but far less bedlam than before. One was getting precise information, at least. There were three seats of infection in Nigeria right now, all three sealed off. But it was most likely that other seats just hadn't yet reached the end of the incubation phase. – The antidote delivered to Nigeria by Minkaba on Max' behest was judged essential for fighting the disease. Of course, they wanted more of it. But the batches outsourced to I.G. Farben in Germany hadn't arrived yet – and Minkaba were already working at the very limit of their capacity.
The stay put policy in Nigeria, already inaugurated prior to General Brown's arrival, was still in effect – and working – so far. However, looking at the information supplied by the English, Max had the impression that English control didn't extend to the territory north of rivers Niger and Benue. That left a stretch of land about two hundred kilometres wide, bordering on northern Groß Togoland, Ala Ka Kuma and Oberkamerun – where nobody seemed to be enforcing anything...
As could be expected, the English wouldn't admit to that deficiency. Max had already asked the military for increased aerial surveillance – and had initiated the preparation of land lines of communication. – Well, one had to admit that not only the English were less present in the respective northern territories... That was one of the basic problems: too much open country with too few decent infrastructure. Once things went the bad way, there was little to stop them from slipping further and further...
[FONT="]Best he went over to Lagos himself to discuss matters face–to–face. If General Brown was the character he assumed she was, one might come to an understanding that benefitted all involved. The English certainly were not interested in losing Nigeria. And Middle Africa had no interest in getting all the Nigerians. – Once one had met – and agreed in principle, one could have a point–to–point telephone line installed. Yeah, all told, Max was coming to appreciate crisis management. It was a fascinating job... [/FONT]
