Page 268 of Incisive

We have video from the Skyway Bridge attack, showing two smaller vessels trailing after the cruise ship. Then the boats stop together, a man leaves the one and transfers to the second vessel. Moments later, the first vessel, apparently unmanned, picks up speed and continues on to ram into the stern of the cruise ship as the other vessel peels off and speeds away. The immediate theory is the attack vessel was steered by remote control.

The video was shot by one of the survivors from the cruise ship just before they ended up diving into a lifeboat with their family. They weren’t trying to film the speedboats but happened to catch all of it in the frame.

“Prepare for Fox and FNB to complain about grounding air traffic,” Casey-Marie darkly mutters. “If we didn’t do it, they’d be screaming we should have. You’ll never win with those fucks so don’t even worry about them.”

“I know.” I’m already mentally drained and physically exhausted, yet I know there are many long, sleepless days ahead of me. “Where are we with mobilizing National Guard units to protect ports and refineries?”

The secretary of DHS speaks up. “We need to protect oil wells and nuclear power plants, too.”

“Not just nuclear,” Casey-Marie points out. “All power plants and dams. And water treatment facilities. So far, no indication those have been targeted beyond the initial bomb threats, so let’s focus on the ports and bridges first and foremost.”

I turn and slap the table, making everyone jump. “None of that answers my question,” I snap.

“It’s underway, Mister President,” the secretary of Homeland Security assures me.

As of right now, much of the country is experiencing gridlock, especially in the regions where attacks happened. Not only surface traffic but air traffic, too. DC is a city in lockdown. The National Guard has been mobilized and emergency barriers are being erected around the White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court buildings, among others.

“What I want to know is why no one’s claimed credit yet,” Casey-Marie says. “You’d think someone would be crowing about this by now.”

“I want to know what their next step is,” I say. “If there’s more.”

Casey-Marie motions at the monitors. “What more do they need? They’ve just created complete chaos in a way even 9/11 didn’t, except apparently with less bloodshed. I’m guessing this is attack was designed to cause fear and throw our entire economy into chaos. If so, then they’ve accomplished what they set out to do.”

“We don’t know that, though.” I focus on the officials gathered around the conference table. “Any credible chatter on the Internet?”

“Not yet,” one says. Right now I’m not even remembering everyone’s names or titles. “Lots of celebrations and conspiracy theories being posted but no one credibly claiming credit.”

“Let me guess,” I venture. “There are already claims this is a ‘false flag’ operation to allow us to enact martial law and send people in FEMA concentration camps.”

“Bingo, Mister President,” Casey-Marie snarks. “Wow, you’rereallygood at this.”

“And no arrests yet?” I ask.

“Not yet, sir,” the FBI director grimly says. “Right now, most law enforcement assets are working on search and recovery efforts in the impacted regions.”

Adding to the mess, the US stock exchanges enacted their own emergency protocols to shut down trading but the effects have already cascaded and are rippling through exchanges around the world.

The head of my detail enters the room. “Mister President, we strongly suggest we evacuate you to Cheyenne Mountain.”

“Why? What have you heard?”

“Unverified intelligence that the White House is part of a second wave of attacks.”

“But we don’t know for sure yet?”

“No, sir.”

“Is Ciro in the air?”

“Yes, sir. The Bardales family is onAir Force Twoand en route as ordered.”

“Then I’m not leaving. Not now, anyway. Not until you tell me he’s safely touched down and locked under the mountain.” I scrub my face with my hands and sit back in my chair. “I can go down to the PEOC if necessary but it would be irresponsible under these circumstances for us both to be airborne right now.”

“Mister President, I strongly—”

“No. What’s the status of our families?”

“Your parents and Mr. Cruz’s family are secured, as is President Samuels and her family. We have not yet located your sister or her husband.”