“Or they can be used for terror attacks right here at home.”
“Yes, sir. But there were also a fair number of larger drones — ones they call RPAs — that also took part in the raids. We’ve been checking the serial numbers — at least on those that have them — and we’re finding most are of North Korean manufacture that were sold through various Russian and Chinese companies to a variety of nations, both friendly and not so friendly. Some of the units were bought with weapons packages already installed. Others were sold as toys or for aerial photography and the like, with the weapons added later. The majority of buyers are in Europe or the Middle East, with some even in the U.S. Most of the bulk purchases took place over the past six months, and amounted to a three hundred percent increase in orders when compared year-to-year.”
“You mean American companies also bought these drones?” asked Governor Murphy.
“There are still plenty of drones being sold for legitimate purposes, Governor. They’re used extensively in movie production, aerial photography, surveying, mining, and for search and rescue, just to mention a few. It’s just a lot harder to pass the background checks and the continual monitoring that goes along with the purchases, yet there are still entities that go through the process. It’s the weapons package that makes these drones deadly. Certain companies, even here in the U.S., build weapons packages specifically for drone operations.”
“Is that legal?”
“Domestically, they only sell to the government for a variety of applications. For international sales they need approval from the State Department, plus a valid end-user certificate. But to answer your question more directly: yes sir, it is legal.”
Before Murphy could launch into his next diatribe, Ortega spoke up: “Jack, we need to put a lid on this. I want an executive order drawn up ceasing the sale of all drones in the country, as well as to outside entities.”
Ortega’s Chief of Staff nodded slowly. “That will help… some, Mr. President, but most of the major drone manufactures are now located overseas, in China and Europe mainly. And Russia has recently jumped on the bandwagon as well. Without their cooperation, a localized ban would have little effect. Considering the tense relations we have with President Marko these days, I doubt if Russia will agree to any reduction in shipments voluntarily. We can ban sales in the States, but it will not prevent future attacks, at least not in the short term.”
“I understand that, Jack, but the people are going to demand action on this front. They have to realize by now how dangerous unfettered access and operation of these drones can be.” The president turned to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Gregory Hagar. “What’s our threat level in light of the RDC being taken out, Admiral?”
The admiral shook his head. “It’s amazing, Mr. President, what an increase in comm traffic there’s been since yesterday, and detected by the NSA and others. The terrorists aren’t even hiding it anymore. They were silent up until the raid, but now there’ve been continuous calls for action from across the board.” He looked to CIA Director Morgan Donohue. “Do you concur, Morgan?”
The tall, impossibly thin spy chief nodded. “There’s ample evidence of pre-planning, both for this attack and the Internet info-dump. Abdul-Shahid Almasi — who we agree is the prime suspect in the attack on the RDC — used the classified information to plan the attack before making it public, but he’s undoubtedly shared it with others. We suspect that enemy assets have already been moved into place and are just waiting for the right time to act.” He cast his gray eyes around the room. “That time is now, Mr. President. It’s going to get a whole lot worse from here on out.”
Ortega lowered his head and tried to clear the cobwebs from his lack of sleep. It seemed that all the dire warnings and what-ifs from last night’s meeting were coming true.
“We must take preemptive action—”
“Please, Owen,” President Ortega said forcefully, cutting off the president-elect. “Let me think. This is still happening on my watch, so I’m going to be held responsible for what does or doesn’t happen.”
Murphy’s face turned beet red. Ortega was sure it had been years since the governor had been spoken to in such harsh terms, but he didn’t care.
He looked to Jack Monroe. “Martial law — is that an option as a way to head off what’s coming?”
Murphy opened his mouth again to speak, but a glance from Ortega stopped him in his tracks.
Monroe looked concerned. “Martial law is usually reserved for events that have already taken place or are underway, Mr. President. As a precaution against a potential threat, it would be unprecedented.”
“But can I do it? I’m sure by the end of the day we’ll be in a full blown war with the terrorists.”
“There’s been a debate going on for years about the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, regarding presidential authorization for declaring martial law. Some readings of Section 1031 say you do have the authority… preemptively.”
“If I may, Mr. President,” said Admiral Hagar. “Simply deploying military assets within the United States does not necessarily invoke martial law. Only when the authority of other law enforcement and legal entities is suspended does that become the true definition of the statute.”
“Is that true, Jack?”
“Technically, yes,” Monroe replied. “However, it’s a fine line you’d be walking when authorities conflict, such as within states’ borders or with the National Guard.”
“Does the National Guard have the capacity to accomplish what we need in this crisis?” the president asked.
Admiral Hagar shook his head. “Not even close, Mr. President.” He looked to the CIA director for support. “According to the scenarios we’ve worked out in the past, we would have to secure not only large public venues, but nearly every crucial infrastructure asset, such as power plants, dams, overpasses, waterways, as well as symbolic targets such as the Statue of Liberty and the Golden Gate Bridge. Even using all our military personnel to accomplish that would stretch us thin. This is a national crisis, sir, covering the entire gambit. After all, what’s classified as a potential target these days? It can be something as big as the White House or as small as a critical bridge over a canyon out west somewhere. The cost of such an operation to the terrorists is so small relatively that they could stage a dozen such smaller strikes rather than a single large event. The question is how do we protect against everything? The answer is we can’t.”
Ortega felt weak — weak and impotent. He knew the situation was serious, but as was the habit of military professionals, when put in the stark terms Hagar was describing, there would be… Armageddon.
In the tense moments that followed Admiral Hagar’s speech, even Owen Murphy remained quiet. All eyes were still on Rene Ortega, and no one was willing to offer a suggestion to something so expansive, so overwhelming.
In the thick silence of the room, a crisp knock came at the door to the Oval Office, a dissonant sound that made several of the people in the room jump. Without waiting for permission, the door opened and an Air Force colonel entered. He handed a sheet of paper to the president and then departed.
Ortega unfolded the paper, and if it was possible for his features to turn even more sallow, they did.
“It looks like the fallout has begun,” he announced. “Besides everything else happening this morning, the St. Louis Arch has just been brought down by a drone strike. And worse than that, Times Square is currently under attack. Local police were anticipating something like this, so they were already on-scene with defensive drones of their own. However, the locals don’t appear to be as proficient at this kind of thing as was the RDC. Casualties are estimated at a thousand already, and there are also reports of random drone bombings of the subway system. Governor Keller has just declared a state of emergency and is calling out the National Guard to protect the bridges and tunnels.”