The sound of a rumbling in the distance was enough of a clue to alert Pasternak and McPherson as to the time, two
Heavy Bombers painted bright red for the days occasion streaked low over the city at just below the speed of sound, they passed directly over the government building before parting, one heading East up the main avenue that the parade would come down and the other West back towards the coast.
The various guests were ushured down to street level where a great grandstand sat waiting, it was, as expected, timed to perfection that the first units on the ground turned the corner onto the avenue just as McPherson got to the podium. For the next hour unit after unit of the military passed by, first the Army showing off a variety of armour and precsion marching. As each group reached the grandstand its members gave an eyes right and either McPherson or Pasternak returned their salute, the pair alternating between sitting chatting with their guests and accepting the salute. "Here come my boys" Pasternak said proudly as he recognised the change in music and the pipes began playing the Paratroop Regiments March. McPherson had been standing at the podium accepting salutes and stood aside to let the Vice President get to salute his former Regiment. Pasternak reached into his jacket pocket and removed a rolled up dark blue beret as the unit closed and proudly saluted.
"VADIK! VADIK! VADIK!" the men of the unit chanted with smiles as they recognised their former Sergeant Major.
"Vadik is very popular with all our fighting men and women, it was one of the reasons we selected him to assist me, if a man is to command his soldiers then he should be favoured by them don't you think." McPherson spoke addressing those sat with him. Vadik was returning to his seat, McPherson could see tears in his assistants eyes. "A bitter sweet moment Vadik?" McPherson asked.
"I'd still rather be down there than up here" he laughed as they swapped places. "Life is simpler with a rifle" Vadik took a seat among the others as the Naval forces began their own march, their blue and white striped jersey's making him smile, he always viewed the uniform as very unmilitary but traditions of some sort meant something and he could respect that. Each boat in the navy had sent a contingent and so once they were gone it was the turn of the Air Force, they unlike the others occupied the airspace as well as the ground as each type of aircraft in the Air Force flew by as ground units of mechanics, air gunners, SAM operators and the like marched or drove past. As was traditional the oldest aircraft in the Air Force came last, the mighty
B-6 Bronze, the crowds younger members covered their ears as the beast of a plane flew over the route. As it cleared the far end of the avenue their was an audiable popping sound and a plume of smoke from one of the engines, McPherson looked slightly concerned. "It's fine, the thing can fly on one engine well enough" Vadik reassured him.
"Yes" McPherson did his best to seem unconcerned but was unsure it gave the right impression. "Vadik" he whispered to his VP, "find a decent excuse" , with that McPherson watched the parades spectators begin to fade away and motioned for people to return to the government building. Vadik followed and reached the reception area just after the others.
"Sir" he spoke loudly to McPherson, "The bomber sir" he began having thought of a decent alibie, "Bird strike, bloody things, crew are about to put down, no harm done. What can I say, Kaitaine engineering, a work of art." He boasted with only a slight smile as he rejoined the event. He looked at his watch and realised the time was now early evening. "Sir, it's time to meet with anyone who requested your time." he reminded the president that several of the guests had requested meetings and now that hour was upon them.
