Director Harold cleared his throat.
As if on cue, General Norton sat down.
Max rose to his feet. He touched the top of the table with his fingertips. Slowly, he surveyed the chamber.
Does he feel stronger with three bodyguards present? Has he been maneuvering for this moment? Anna still couldn’t fathom the Marine’s behavior at the door. The Presidential Guard was incorruptible, right? So why had the Marine let the director’s men in while they were wearing guns?
“Mr. President,” Max said, “this is the crisis we’ve all been dreading. It has arrived at last.”
David looked up at the Homeland Security Director. Exhaustion made the President look weak.
“We faced a grave crisis this winter,” Max said. “We faced it and overcame the challenge. This is America. We have always overcome our challenges. I believe that today is going to be no different, sir.”
“I…” David sat a little straighter, but his shoulders were still slumped. “I know what you’re going to say, Max.”
Max waited, with his face impassive.
“You’re going to tell me to launch ASBMs,” the President said.
ASBM meant Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles.
“We tried that once against the Chinese,” the President said. “We attempted to halt their Alaskan Invasion back in 2032 using ASBMs.”
David had been the Joint-Forces Commander in Alaska at the time.
“We failed to stop the Chinese eight years ago,” the President said. “Why do you think our ASBMs will do better against the more tech savvy Germans?”
Max stared David in the eyes. “Sir,” the director said in a strong, level voice. “Eight years ago, you used conventionally-armed ASBMs. I’m talking about using nuclear-armed ballistic missiles.”
“Nuclear?” the President asked in a soft voice.
“Yes, sir,” the director said. “The great crisis has arrived and we must rise to the challenge. It’s clear that we cannot move enough men into place to stop the GD forces from swarming onto New Jersey. If the Germans do that, they will have encircled a large portion of our military, cutting off—”
The director paused and glanced at the general.
“The GD will have cut off over one million men,” Norton said.
“That many?” the President asked in his strangely soft voice.
“We cannot allow the GD to land their soldiers, sir,” Max said. “I realize you have a reluctance to use nuclear weapons.”
“I… I…” the President seemed to grope for words. He seemed lost, dazed.
“I understand, sir,” Max said. His voice softened, too, almost as if he really did have compassion.
But Anna was not fooled. They planned this. Norton and the director are working together. Maybe someone bribed the Marine guards by finding out how to get to each one.
“This is a terrible moment in our history,” Max was saying. “The blows against our country have been staggering. You have staved off several grave defeats, sir. It would have drained anyone. Each time, you’ve summoned the resolve and refused to let our country’s enemies win. Unfortunately, the grim resolve needed to stave off these defeats has taken a grave toll of you, sir. I respect your service to our country. No one could have done more. However…maybe it is time for you to rest a while.”
The President blinked at Max, and a tired frown appeared on David’s face.
“Sir,” Max said. “I could order the nuclear strike for you, if you would give me the authority.”
“You would do this?” the President asked.
“We must stop them,” Max said. “We must use a number of our ICBMs while the enemy is still far enough away from our coast.”
“Uh…” General Norton said.
Max didn’t glance at the general, but he shook his head minutely.
The idea of their collusion and the possibility of corrupt Presidential Guards galvanized Anna. “Sir,” she said. “If you decide to launch nuclear weapons, I think you should give the orders and no one else.”
David moved his head on a seemingly rusty neck. He gave her a hurt look.
It stabbed her heart. He hated using nuclear weapons. It had grated on him giving such orders before, and it had caused him nightmares. Was she using him now because she didn’t like Max? Being President was a demanding job under ordinary circumstances. During war, it became much worse. Maybe the endlessly hard decision had rung David dry. Likely, no one in American history but for Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy had faced a moment like this. Costly, maybe even debilitating defeat stared them in the eyes.
Despite the hurt in her heart for him, Anna decided that she owed it to David to tell him the stakes.
“Mr. President,” Anna said.
“I think you should quit talking,” Max told her. “You’ve said enough.”
“Mr. President,” Anna said, ignoring the director.
Max made a small gesture with his left hand. The three bodyguards rose ominously from their chairs.
“You are the Commander-in-Chief,” Anna told David in a rush. “You should not relinquish your authority unless you’re willing to step down as President. Are you ready to do that, sir?”
David blinked at her.
“Ms. Chen,” Max said. “You are out of line.”
“This is the terrible crisis, sir,” Anna said. “You faced such a moment in Alaska when you fought in 2032. Do you remember that time?”
Ever so slowly, David nodded.
Max cleared his throat, and he looked angry.
Anna didn’t want to say her next words, but she forced them out of her mouth before it was too late. “Are you folding up under pressure, Mr. President? Is that’s what happening here?”
David stopped blinking, and he grew ashen.
“That is quite enough,” Max said. “In fact, I deem it as treasonous to try to break the President’s resolve at a time like this. I will not stand by and do nothing. Men,” he said, half turning to his bodyguards. “Would you please escort Ms. Chen from the chamber?”
The three big men in suits started toward her.
“Mr. President,” Anna said, speaking faster than ever. “I think you should summon your Marine guards.” If the Presidential Guards were corrupt, it was all over anyway. But if Max had barged his way past the door guard through force of will, then maybe David still had a chance.
The President watched her a moment longer. Then he seemed to notice the bodyguards advancing around the conference table. Something came over his features, a mulish stubbornness perhaps.
David Sims stood, and he rapped his knuckles against the table. “Sit down,” he told the three big men in suits.
It seemed as if they hadn’t heard or refused to hear the President.
It was then the Director of the CIA—Dr. Samuel Levin—scraped back his chair. He was Anna’s old boss, and Levin was a wizened figure, with uncombed, thick white hair jutting in disorder. He sat nearest the door to the chamber.
The bodyguards glanced at the CIA Director. With his hunched left shoulder held in its crooked way, Levin started for the door. His left foot slid a bit. Anna remembered hearing about a stroke some time back. It must have been worse than she’d realized.
The three bodyguards finally stopped. They stared at the President. Then they half turned and regarded Max.
They want a confirmation of the order, Anna realized.