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Barrett smiles with reassurance. “Quinn, it’s all right. Go back and tell the deputy secretary of defense that I will get back to him in due course.”
Quinn looks to the quiet Carlton Pope standing in the corner, and to the two silent and uncomfortable Army officers. Like he’s looking for reassurance or support.
But he gets nothing.
“It’s important,” he says. “It’s very, very important.”
“I’m sure it is,” Barrett says. “Now. Leave me be.”
Quinn turns and leaves the office. Barrett sits back on the couch, across from General Peterson and Colonel Yankins.
“General,” Barrett says. “Where were we?”
CHAPTER 123
WITH A FIRM and determined voice, General Peterson says, “Are you ready to proceed with the authorization?”
“Yes, General, I am.”
“Sir, would you please activate your authorization card?”
“With pleasure,” he says, picking up the blue plastic card. Another one in his possession is red, marking the one to be used for the nuclear football. He snaps it in half, revealing a stiff sheet of white paper. It has the correct month and year, and the dates running down in a column to the left. Each date has a row of letters and numbers to the right.
General Peterson does the same with his own blue plastic card. Barrett says, “Today’s date is the twelfth.”
“Confirmed.”
“Today’s code is one niner alpha alpha eight six bravo yankee two.”
General Peterson says, “Confirming, one niner alpha alpha eight six bravo yankee two.”
“Confirmed.”
“Mr. President, what is the challenge word?”
“General, the challenge word isPotomac.”
“I confirm,” he says. “Challenge word isPotomac.”
General Peterson lowers the card.
“Sir, according to procedure, I now need you to officially issue your orders.”
With his voice strong and unyielding, Barrett says, “General Peterson, at twelve hundred hours today, you will issue orders to execute Case Shanghai.”
“Yes, sir,” he says, no hesitation.
And in another surprise, Colonel Yankins speaks up. “Mr. President, I—”
“Colonel, that’s enough,” Peterson says.
“No, no,” Barrett says. “Let her speak. Go ahead, Colonel Yankins.”
Her eyes flicker right to her superior officer, and Barrett knows what she’s thinking: she’s about to commit career suicide, but she has to say something.
He knows what she’s going to say, but feeling generous, he lets her say it anyway.
“Mr. President, I … excuse me for being so up front, but I want to make sure you’ve thought through the major impacts this decision will have not only on China and the world economy, but also on the United States,” she says, voice nearly shaking. “It has the possibility of causing irreparable harm to our economy … and our way of life.”