Macklin sat by the window and stared at the massive activity as crews worked nonstop along a mile of waterfront. In his mind’s eye, though, he still saw the fires and the billowing smoke rising from the demolished shoreline… and the rows and rows of body bags, the images forever chiseled in his soul.
Then the pilot flew him over to Truman, now dry-docked alongside Kennedy. The island had been removed, and a new superstructure would be installed in a month’s time. The president stared at the charred flight deck, thinking of all the souls that had perished that day. He thought, also, of Stennis, now undergoing similar repairs in Honolulu, as well as Bush, still being decontaminated following the nuclear strike. And, of course, there were the 134 sailors lost when North Dakota took one of the torpedoes meant for Stennis.
He sighed. So many losses. And for what?
Some would argue that he may not have done enough to avenge the attacks. Others could argue one day — if it ever became public — that he overstepped his boundaries as commander in chief by launching so many covert strikes, including the sinking of strategic Chinese vessels, the kidnapping of a Saudi prince, and the destruction of the power grids in two countries, which had caused havoc in world stock markets. And yet others could criticize the manner in which he’d seized hundreds of billions of dollars in assets from Omar Al Saud as well as from a number of members of the royal family — funds he now used to restore the damaged carriers and to rebuild Newport News. He’d also diverted some of the funds to bolster financial aid to the victims of the attacks.
But Macklin couldn’t care less what the pundits thought or might think one day if any of the information was ever leaked. He knew in his heart that he had done everything within his power to punish the perpetrators while keeping his responses proportional, and even turning the tide on the war on terror and the decades-long struggle in the Taiwan Strait.
In the final analysis, however, it was the immortal words of John F. Kennedy that filled President Macklin’s mind as he watched the tip of Newport News slowly rising from the devastation of the nuclear strike. In spite of having persevered over his enemies, in spite of having delivered a solid dose of American justice to those who had dared attack his nation, this victory truly felt like ashes in his mouth.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Hats off to Andrew Zack at Endpapers Press.
My sincere gratitude to R. J. Pineiro for his outstanding contribution to this novel. Without him, it wouldn’t have been possible.
Exceptional thanks to, Joshua Johnson for his attention to editorial detail.
A special thanks to Jeannie, my wife, editor, business manager, and best friend.
— JOE WEBER
A special thanks to Lt. Col. Steve “Coach” Fournier, USAF pilot, Col. Delbert “Houn’dog” Bassett, US Marine Corps aviator, Matthew Bialer, Lory Pineiro, and Alice Frenk.
I am truly grateful to Andrew Zack, as well as to Joe and Jeannie Weber, for inviting me to participate in this novel.
— R. J. PINEIRO