ABLE ONE by Ben Bova

Author:Ben Bova [Bova, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-02-03T21:00:00+00:00

Air Force One

The President looked up from the text of the speech he would give at the Cow Palace as his chief of staff came into the private compartment and sat in the big comfortable chair facing him.

Leaning toward the President, Norman Foster said, “The pilot says we’re on the approach to San Francisco.”

The President glanced at his wristwatch. “Right on schedule. Good.”

“We can still turn around,” Foster said.

The President gave him the stare that often froze lesser men. Foster gazed back at his boss without flinching.

“They’re still worried about the city being nuked?”

“Took a call direct from your National Security Advisor. The admiral thinks the prudent thing to do would be to turn back.”

“I’d look like a damned fool if nothing happens.”

“You’d be dead if they nuke the city. Me too.”

With an easy smile the President said, “I’m going through with this. I can’t afford to look like a coward. I’d never live it down.”

Foster clenched his fists on his lap. “The plane could develop engine trouble. We could divert the flight to some other airport. A military base.”

The President’s smile faded. “You really think they’re going to hit San Francisco.”

“I think they might try.”

“Might.”

“If they do—”

“Norm, you’ve sat in on those intelligence briefings as often as I have. The North Koreans don’t have a missile that can reach San Francisco.”

“Maybe not.”

“Hell, the last time they launched a missile it flopped into the middle of the Pacific. Besides, I’ve checked the reports,” the President went on. “I haven’t been sitting back here playing solitaire, Norm. I do my homework. According to the latest intelligence estimates the North Koreans do not have a missile with the range to reach San Francisco. Nor the accuracy. And especially not the reliability.”

“And you’re willing to pin your life to that?”

The President hesitated for the slightest fraction of a heartbeat, then said firmly, “Yes. I am.”

Foster looked around the compartment, gathering his thoughts. Then he said, “There’s this guy from the NIC sitting in on the special situation team we put together—”

“In the Pentagon?”

“Right.” Foster nodded. “He’s insisting that the North Koreans are aiming for San Francisco, specifically because they know you’re going to be there tonight.”

“He’s running counter to the intelligence reports.”

“He’s got the representative from your National Security Advisor worried enough that she got him to put in another call to us here, warning us.”

“One guy from the NIC?” the President asked. “What’s his background? What does he know about the missiles the North Koreans have?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know his name. But he claims that if they could deliver a nuke into orbit and knock out all the communications satellites, the same kind of missile could hit San Francisco.”

The President leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“One guy,” he muttered.

Foster nodded.

“What’s his background? Where’s he from? Could be a Republican who wants to make me look bad.”

Foster threw his hands up in the air. “For Chrissakes! We’re talking nuclear war here!”

“We are talking,” the President said

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