Ecliptic Flight (Deception Fleet Book 5) by Daniel Gibbs & Steve Rzasa

Author:Daniel Gibbs & Steve Rzasa [Gibbs, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2022-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

The White House

Lawrence City

Canaan

19 March 2466

Justin Spencer sagged behind his desk, exhausted. “How do you do that every day?”

Press Secretary Tomas Escarra shrugged. “It’s like handling a classroom full of surly teens, except they’re asking one person all the questions instead of the other way around. Taking this job after a career in teaching wasn’t much of a stretch.”

“Better you than me. I’d rather be back in a cockpit with Leaguer fighters gunning for me.”

“Sir?” Rios, one of Spencer’s security officers, poked his head in the open door. “They’re here.”

“Thanks. Send them in.” Spencer glanced at Escarra. “Tell me that was it for today.”

“Oh, for today, but there’s always tomorrow.” Escarra checked his commlink as he strode for the office exit. “I’ll be in touch when I hear more.”

“Thanks.” Not really. I wasn’t exaggerating by much when I made that quip about the fighters.

No sooner had Escarra left than Secretary of Defense Celinda Snow and General MacIntosh entered, heads lowered in hushed conversation over whatever Snow’s tablet revealed. Spencer had no idea MacIntosh could be so quiet.

Vice President Eduardo Fuentes was right behind them. He brushed by Snow on his way to Spencer’s desk. “We’re on sifting sand here, Justin, I must say.”

“I know it, Ed. That’s why I said what I did.”

“With all due respect, Mr. President, that was probably a mistake,” Snow added.

Spencer frowned. “I don’t believe it was. The video from Nandao spooked the public. I needed to address it head-on, being as transparent as I could about what we knew without jeopardizing operational security.”

“You did well on that score,” MacIntosh agreed. “But I don’t like it when the media get nosy for these kinds of things. They’re looking for scandal.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, General, but if any of this mess is tied to the administration, that’s what they’ll find.” Fuentes shook his head. “The Peace Union is apoplectic, of course. The more rabid among them think I should denounce you and resign from the vice presidency. An even smaller subset wants me to run against you in the next election—or replace you when they file articles of impeachment.”

MacIntosh muttered something that, in his thickening Scottish brogue, sounded like “arseholes.”

“Impeachment? Are they serious?” Spencer knew he shouldn’t be amused but couldn’t help smirking. “They’ve missed their chance to kick me out for far more serious oversights than misplaced starfighters.”

“It’s all bluster—for now. I’ve tamped down on the most outspoken as best I can.” Fuentes shook his head. “Posturing for votes, I’m sure.”

“But more seriously, folks—how sure are we those are our fighters?” Spencer asked. “There’s no missing the League date stamps. Celinda?”

“The initial analysis points toward legitimacy, but I have turned a copy over to CDF Intelligence for further scrutiny.” Snow looked at MacIntosh. “The general and I have not yet given it to our CIS counterparts, though I understand Director Pelletier has convened an emergency meeting of his department heads.”

“Pelletier. The man’s past his prime,” MacIntosh grumbled.

“Take it easy on Frank,” Spencer countered. “He’s a thousand times better than Elizabeth Balodis ever was.

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