Surviving In Paradise: A Santana Cruz Political Thriller Book 2 by Win Cady

Author:Win Cady [Cady, Win]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hudson Story Company LLC
Published: 2023-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

With the overhead lights flickering erratically, Darla Renae grabbed her boss's forearm and pulled her close. Ever since their friendship began in college, Darla's first instinct was to protect the woman she admired most. As Chief of Staff, she could now serve President Grace Davis-Duval.

Both women were in the basement level of the West Wing, about to enter the Situation Room. The lights blinked off and on again, and then everything went dark. Seconds later, battery powered emergency lighting cast eerie shadows across the windowless basement.

Darla Renae was already on her phone getting information. "Another blackout. It's a one-hundred-degree day and the grid can't keep up."

"The price we're paying because we ignored climate change for too long," said GDD.

"Power plant Buzzard Point went offline. The others are now straining to keep up."

The GDD administration had decommissioned most fossil fuel power plants in the United Socialist States of America. They had built massive solar and wind farms surrounding American cities. The country had plunged into a multi-year economic depression because of the intermittent power source and the influx of millions of immigrants through open borders.

GDD felt horrible at the lives lost and the misery of most of the residents in the USSA. Especially during days with temperature extremes. But humanity had to endure the cost to save the planet.

The lights flickering back on followed the sound of a distant, enormous engine starting up. GDD heard the soft sound of rushing air just before the blast hit and cooled the back of her neck.

Darla Renae said, "That's the White House diesel generator firing up. We should be OK."

Five power plants fueled by oil, coal, or natural gas provided comfort to six hundred thousand residents of Washington, DC. A tinge of guilt pulsed through GDD as she thought about the suffering around the rest of her country.

She had no choice, though, then to provide for the energy demands of the central government. Unfortunately, CO2 polluting fuels had to be burned to keep the lifeblood of government power flowing.

Darla Renae held open the door to the Situation Room as GDD walked in. Three people at the far end of the conference table stood and greeted the President. Two technicians operated wall monitors opposite the table.

"Thank you for coming," GDD said. "The Situation Room remodel is about complete, and I wanted to test out the new features. Thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and meet you all here."

Han Li and Chad Lightfoot sat back down to manipulate controls on different screens on the room walls. A tall, slender African American woman dressed in a black suit remained standing.

Darla Renae said, "Madame President, you remember our classmate, Zuri Jones?"

"Of course, Zuri. I haven't seen you since graduation. The Greta Thorn Women's College hasn't been the same since the three of us roamed its halls."

"Thank you for the opportunity, President Davis-Duvall."

"Stop that! I've always been Grace to you. We go way back to our militant college days. When Darla suggested you head the National Security Institute, I knew it was a perfect fit.

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