Read Online Collapse by Richard Stephenson - Free Book Online
Authors: Richard Stephenson
Tags: thriller, Science-Fiction
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further.
Reining in as much contempt and sarcasm as he could, Director Jimenez answered the question. “Because, General, it can’t be done. The first bunker they built is the weakest one of the five, and we have yet to so much as scratch it.”
The Director was indeed correct. The European Army had made several attempts to destroy it in the early stages of the war and never came close. They had even sent a team of undercover spies to try to infiltrate the facility to destroy it from the inside. Captured, the team of spies was brutally tortured. Their deaths were broadcast across the Internet.
The president, playing referee and getting back on point, continued. “Roberto, going back to my original question about the three warheads they now possess...”
The Director, again irritated with the use of his first name, smiled at the president, “Yes, Mr. President?”
“What is the possibility that the Iranians would break the three warheads down and build one really big device?”
“That’s a good question, sir, one that I had myself.” Jimenez gave another taunting look at General Moody as if to say, “See there? That’s the type of question that should be asked, you stupid grunt.”
The Director continued to address the president. “Based on our intelligence, we believe the Empire has the capability of breaking down the warheads into a larger, more powerful one. However, to do so would seriously diminish their threat in the region. Putting all their nuclear eggs in one basket would mean that they could wipe Paris or London from the map. If they did so they would, however, not have any remaining nuclear devices. It would take six months to a year for them to produce another one, during which time they would be vulnerable to invasion.”
“Doesn’t make strategic sense,” General Weygandt spoke up, not really asking a question, simply stating the facts. “If I were them, I would take the three devices I had and split them into six. The yield wouldn’t be enough to level a city, but it could still kill thousands of people and would instill twice the fear.
“An excellent observation that had not occurred to me, General. Well done.” Roberto smiled at General Weygandt and then quickly shot another menacing glare at the chairman. The seventy-two year old was acting like a schoolyard bully.
The president almost laughed at the chairman, who was clearly letting the old man get the best of him. Carl was not hard to rile up; anyone could push his buttons, that is, outside of the military. No one in uniform would dare mock the second-in-command of the United States military. Again playing peacemaker, the president asked, “Where do they stand on completing an ICBM?”
The director did not need to ask the computer, he knew the answer, “The estimates remain the same, at least fifteen months. Their test launches barely make it into the upper atmosphere.”
This was what the president feared the most. The thought of the Iranians delivering a nuclear device to an American city kept him up at night. The president and everyone in the room also had nightmares about the terror attacks they now faced on their own soil with alarming frequency. September 11, 2001, was a day they all remembered well. The mere thought that the most powerful nation on earth could be attacked on their home soil was something they had never dreamed of on September 10, 2001. Everyone in the room thought back to the day the Twin Towers fell as the beginning, a prophecy of things to come.
The president addressed both the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Warren Gill. The two had grown accustomed to being addressed at the same time, like they were a couple.
“Gentlemen, how are things on the home front?”
“To put it bluntly, Mr. President, not good.”
Reining in as much contempt and sarcasm as he could, Director Jimenez answered the question. “Because, General, it can’t be done. The first bunker they built is the weakest one of the five, and we have yet to so much as scratch it.”
The Director was indeed correct. The European Army had made several attempts to destroy it in the early stages of the war and never came close. They had even sent a team of undercover spies to try to infiltrate the facility to destroy it from the inside. Captured, the team of spies was brutally tortured. Their deaths were broadcast across the Internet.
The president, playing referee and getting back on point, continued. “Roberto, going back to my original question about the three warheads they now possess...”
The Director, again irritated with the use of his first name, smiled at the president, “Yes, Mr. President?”
“What is the possibility that the Iranians would break the three warheads down and build one really big device?”
“That’s a good question, sir, one that I had myself.” Jimenez gave another taunting look at General Moody as if to say, “See there? That’s the type of question that should be asked, you stupid grunt.”
The Director continued to address the president. “Based on our intelligence, we believe the Empire has the capability of breaking down the warheads into a larger, more powerful one. However, to do so would seriously diminish their threat in the region. Putting all their nuclear eggs in one basket would mean that they could wipe Paris or London from the map. If they did so they would, however, not have any remaining nuclear devices. It would take six months to a year for them to produce another one, during which time they would be vulnerable to invasion.”
“Doesn’t make strategic sense,” General Weygandt spoke up, not really asking a question, simply stating the facts. “If I were them, I would take the three devices I had and split them into six. The yield wouldn’t be enough to level a city, but it could still kill thousands of people and would instill twice the fear.
“An excellent observation that had not occurred to me, General. Well done.” Roberto smiled at General Weygandt and then quickly shot another menacing glare at the chairman. The seventy-two year old was acting like a schoolyard bully.
The president almost laughed at the chairman, who was clearly letting the old man get the best of him. Carl was not hard to rile up; anyone could push his buttons, that is, outside of the military. No one in uniform would dare mock the second-in-command of the United States military. Again playing peacemaker, the president asked, “Where do they stand on completing an ICBM?”
The director did not need to ask the computer, he knew the answer, “The estimates remain the same, at least fifteen months. Their test launches barely make it into the upper atmosphere.”
This was what the president feared the most. The thought of the Iranians delivering a nuclear device to an American city kept him up at night. The president and everyone in the room also had nightmares about the terror attacks they now faced on their own soil with alarming frequency. September 11, 2001, was a day they all remembered well. The mere thought that the most powerful nation on earth could be attacked on their home soil was something they had never dreamed of on September 10, 2001. Everyone in the room thought back to the day the Twin Towers fell as the beginning, a prophecy of things to come.
The president addressed both the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Warren Gill. The two had grown accustomed to being addressed at the same time, like they were a couple.
“Gentlemen, how are things on the home front?”
“To put it bluntly, Mr. President, not good.”
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