Critical Asset by Ian Tonnessen

Author:Ian Tonnessen [Tonnessen, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hardshot Publishing
Published: 2021-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

The White House – Situation Room

08:56 a.m. (1356Z), 24 December 2065

The Situation Room’s wall screen flickered, and on came the dour face of His Excellency Orhan Celik, President of the Islamic Republic of Turkey. Like President Loughlin in the Situation Room, he was standing in his own command center, surrounded by military advisors.

“President Celik,” Loughlin began, “I would like you to think of this as a courtesy call. I expect it will be brief. Would you care to explain your nation’s action against our satellite?”

Celik remained stone-faced. He replied in his native language, but the screen on the Situation Room’s wall auto-translated for Loughlin and her team. “Madam President, I do not know what deception is being performed, but let me be clear to you and to everyone there who is watching. Turkey is not responsible for this preposterous act. If we had done it, what do you suppose we would have to gain?”

“The rocket originated from your nation, sir. Surely you do not deny this.”

“I do not. However, I am told it was meant only for scientific collection. We are investigating this. But we detected its acceleration the same as you. My science advisor insists it could only have been powered by a significant amount of antimatter. You know this is something my nation does not have, nor do we have the facilities to produce it.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t know that for certain, Mr. President. I only know that you don’t have the means to produce it legally, in deep space. But the power source did not come from us. As you know, we only have one facility which produces it in quantity, the same facility whose communications were cut off by your missile.”

Celik glared at his counterpart. “Madam President, conflicts among nations have often begun by stratagems of deception, have they not? There is indeed a deception happening here, and it is being perpetrated by powerful forces. I am obliged to believe this is your deception, because I know it is not mine. Please understand this plainly: any aggression against my nation by yours will be met by retaliation.”

Loughlin nodded in the direction of the Joint Chiefs before turning back to Celik.

“As I said, Mr. President, this has been a courtesy call. Please keep this channel available. I expect you’ll wish to call back.”

Loughlin signaled to Diandra Stone, who switched off the video link even before Celik could respond.

“Most effective with him if it’s short and to the point, I think.”

“You didn’t bring up the cables in the Med, ma’am,” said Drennan.

“We still haven’t proved it was them, but it’s obvious that it’s no coincidence. Talking about it doesn’t really matter anyway. They’ll know our thoughts on the cables in a minute. Our next move will cover our response for them as well as for the satellite.”

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs looked up from his link with SPACECOM. “The orders have gone through, Madam President.”

* **

Onboard Theodore Roosevelt, the orders came up on the screens in the C2C: the president had approved Selected Attack Options 206-46 and 560-6.

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