Short Season by D. J. Scott

Author:D. J. Scott [Scott, D. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: War & Military, Political, Military, Thrillers, Fiction
ISBN: 9781943290697
Google: Ut_7tgEACAAJ
Goodreads: 40875931
Publisher: Sextant Press
Published: 2018-07-15T22:02:22+00:00

Chapter 29

September 13, 2017 0300Z 0600 AST (Sept. 12, 2300 EDT)

The White House Situation Room

Brendan Wallace sipped coffee from a mug with the presidential logo while graphics were loaded onto the wall displays. He looked at each of the assembled officials.

So did Baker. But if the President was trying to take a read on their true feelings about Operation Ocean Reach, he was out of luck. The Situation Room was the ultimate high stakes poker game, and none of these players was revealing a thing.

Wallace broke into the soft background noise of quiet conversations. “Let’s get started. Ted, are we ready to go?”

General Theodore Roosevelt Lennox was present for the first time in over a week, replacing Captain Washington, who was now deployed with the command group.

“Mr. President, the elements of Task Force 58 are in position. Nothing’s occurred that makes us believe this Abdullah Nazer, or anyone else in Yemen, knows what’s coming. The Abraham Lincoln strike group has been pulled east overnight and is now positioned to provide additional air support. They’ve been temporarily designated Task Force 58.3. Our Marines are on deck in helicopters or in vehicles on the landing craft and ready to go. We’re just waiting for your go ahead.” Lennox looked expectantly at the President.

“Thank you General.” Wallace turned to Baker. “Sonny, just how sure are we that when we get there we’ll find those nukes?”

Baker stifled a groan. Now that the operation was actually ready to go, Wallace was getting nervous and repeatedly asked for more and more assurance of success. “Sir, you’ve seen all the data I have. It’s very strong. We have solid satellite surveillance showing those shipping containers being trucked east, then north, to the small town of Arad. Last night you felt quite confident after seeing the data obtained by the SEALS.” Two days before a dozen men from SEAL Team 4 had been infiltrated north of Arad into a blocking position to prevent further movement of the warheads to the north. They had sent a small battery-powered drone fitted with a lightweight neutron detector on a single pass over the suspect warehouse.

“Sonny,” said Karen Hiller, “the President knows what he saw last night. He wants to know what you think now . . . today . . . right this minute!”

Wallace seemed taken aback with his Chief of Staff’s outburst, but agreed with her sentiment. He simply looked at Sonny Baker with raised eyebrows, as if to say, “Well?”

Baker cleared his throat then stood to give himself a bit more gravitas. “The nukes are there Mr. President. Every shred of evidence supports that conclusion and that’s what I believe.”

“So you think we should launch the operation?”

“Yes sir, I do.” Baker knew this question was for the purpose of putting him the on record. But there was obviously no choice; so there was no point in being evasive.

“Are all six warheads in that warehouse?”

This was the question Baker was hoping to avoid. There was strong evidence that there was more than one and probably more than three.

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