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Authors: Gordon Kessler
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history. The Gunny and Jackson most likely feel indebted — wish to repay McMaster for saving their asses.”
“I’m sure they do,” the President said. “And McMaster is a one of a kind. His Nonlethal Solutions company is ingenious. Their research and development of nonlethal weapons is undoubtedly responsible for saving hundreds of lives, thousands will be saved in the future. But these men have to know this is a sensitive issue. If we act before knowing who’s behind this — who’s responsible and why they’re doing it — a messy rescue mission could be very costly.”
“They, no doubt, know that, sir,” Defense Secretary Banks said. “But they seem to be getting intel and direction from what might be regarded as a less than conventional source. It appears they believe they have no choice but to act now. They’ve been in constant contact with our Thousand Eyes — ”
Thurman interrupted, “Mr. President, I suggest we stick with the facts and not rely on crystal balls.”
Banks said, “The facts are; we have dozens of scientists and surgeons missing. And then there’s the death of Spain’s President last Monday. As you know, sir, Thousand Eyes thinks it’s related. Garnica had just turned sixty-five, but his doctors were flabbergasted by his heart attack. Said he was in excellent health.”
“Black magic and mumbo jumbo,” Thurman said. “I suppose if he’d slaughtered a couple of chickens and hanged them on his bedposts he’d still be alive today.”
Banks stared at his own hands, seeming stifled.
Coates placed his index finger across his top lip, looking almost as if he was hiding it. He fixed his eyes on the front of President Mason’s desk without comment.
Mason swiveled his chair to face the window again. He gazed out for a moment, thinking he would let their emotions simmer, give them time to consider what they were all really in for. Nearly a minute of silence passed before he turned back and asked, “What are our options?”
Thurman raised his eyebrows. It was the most emotion he would ever show, and even that was rare. “You’re correct about a ‘messy rescue mission,’ Mr. President. Whoever is behind this is obviously well organized. If a rescue effort fails, it could end up costly not only by way of human life and financially, but politically unpopular, as well. You don’t need that, right now. Election’s coming up. The necessary course of action is obvious. Not only are our bombers prepared, but we have nuclear subs within striking distance of any location on this continent, as well as any other continent, for that matter. They’re armed with cruise missiles that — ”
This time it was Coates who interrupted. “Jesus, Mr. President. We’ll be killing our own people.”
Thurman didn’t look at Coates. He continued to gaze directly at Mason. “They knew the risk. It was their choice to become rogues — not let the President, the U.S. Government in on their intel. As I was saying, Mr. President, as soon as we determine where they are, we could surgically remove the facility and the town in question — if need be, with small nukes. The missiles can fly map of the earth , under radar. Nobody would see them coming, couldn’t prove where they came from. It worked last year at the North Korean nuclear plant. It’ll work again, now.”
Mason wasn’t one hundred percent pleased with his own decision to destroy North Korea’s nuclear arms plant the year before. Disguised as a nuclear power plant, to intelligence sources it was an obvious façade. The bombing had worked out well for the U.S., however. The North Koreans had no proof that it had been American bombs that destroyed their facility, and they weren’t about to let UN inspectors in to look over the mess. The swift action had set back the North Koreans’ nuclear program at least ten years and diverted what was building to be a costly confrontation between the North and the South that would draw the major
“I’m sure they do,” the President said. “And McMaster is a one of a kind. His Nonlethal Solutions company is ingenious. Their research and development of nonlethal weapons is undoubtedly responsible for saving hundreds of lives, thousands will be saved in the future. But these men have to know this is a sensitive issue. If we act before knowing who’s behind this — who’s responsible and why they’re doing it — a messy rescue mission could be very costly.”
“They, no doubt, know that, sir,” Defense Secretary Banks said. “But they seem to be getting intel and direction from what might be regarded as a less than conventional source. It appears they believe they have no choice but to act now. They’ve been in constant contact with our Thousand Eyes — ”
Thurman interrupted, “Mr. President, I suggest we stick with the facts and not rely on crystal balls.”
Banks said, “The facts are; we have dozens of scientists and surgeons missing. And then there’s the death of Spain’s President last Monday. As you know, sir, Thousand Eyes thinks it’s related. Garnica had just turned sixty-five, but his doctors were flabbergasted by his heart attack. Said he was in excellent health.”
“Black magic and mumbo jumbo,” Thurman said. “I suppose if he’d slaughtered a couple of chickens and hanged them on his bedposts he’d still be alive today.”
Banks stared at his own hands, seeming stifled.
Coates placed his index finger across his top lip, looking almost as if he was hiding it. He fixed his eyes on the front of President Mason’s desk without comment.
Mason swiveled his chair to face the window again. He gazed out for a moment, thinking he would let their emotions simmer, give them time to consider what they were all really in for. Nearly a minute of silence passed before he turned back and asked, “What are our options?”
Thurman raised his eyebrows. It was the most emotion he would ever show, and even that was rare. “You’re correct about a ‘messy rescue mission,’ Mr. President. Whoever is behind this is obviously well organized. If a rescue effort fails, it could end up costly not only by way of human life and financially, but politically unpopular, as well. You don’t need that, right now. Election’s coming up. The necessary course of action is obvious. Not only are our bombers prepared, but we have nuclear subs within striking distance of any location on this continent, as well as any other continent, for that matter. They’re armed with cruise missiles that — ”
This time it was Coates who interrupted. “Jesus, Mr. President. We’ll be killing our own people.”
Thurman didn’t look at Coates. He continued to gaze directly at Mason. “They knew the risk. It was their choice to become rogues — not let the President, the U.S. Government in on their intel. As I was saying, Mr. President, as soon as we determine where they are, we could surgically remove the facility and the town in question — if need be, with small nukes. The missiles can fly map of the earth , under radar. Nobody would see them coming, couldn’t prove where they came from. It worked last year at the North Korean nuclear plant. It’ll work again, now.”
Mason wasn’t one hundred percent pleased with his own decision to destroy North Korea’s nuclear arms plant the year before. Disguised as a nuclear power plant, to intelligence sources it was an obvious façade. The bombing had worked out well for the U.S., however. The North Koreans had no proof that it had been American bombs that destroyed their facility, and they weren’t about to let UN inspectors in to look over the mess. The swift action had set back the North Koreans’ nuclear program at least ten years and diverted what was building to be a costly confrontation between the North and the South that would draw the major
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