by Bobby Akart
“Brad, what’s that look like?” asked Sarge.
“Mr. President, our Global Response Team has already been deployed out of Andrews Air Force Base a short time ago. They will be augmented with additional personnel and all the tools they need to secure our facility and extract personnel, if necessary.”
“How do you do that without choppers?” asked Sarge.
“Brute force, Mr. President. May I also add that the GRT will also be tasked with locating our ambassador. By the time they’re on final approach to Taipei City, I’m confident our eyes in the sky will have traced his route and point of abduction, if that has actually happened.”
Sarge let out a deep sigh and checked his watch. It was late in Beijing and the opportunity to reach the Chinese president was ten hours away. The current level of conflict didn’t warrant a call at this hour.
“We’re not in a position to conduct a regionalized skirmish with the Chinese at this point, much less a full-scale war. Our first goals are to protect our citizens, evacuate them as necessary, and secure our ambassador’s safety. Secondly, we’ll continue to push our naval strike groups into position to force the Chinese to stand down. However, we need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Brad, I’ll need to be briefed on this later in the day. I want to know exactly how China would invade Taiwan and what we can do to stop it.”
Chapter 48
10:00 a.m.
The Oval Office
The White House
Washington, DC
“Sarah, it’s so nice to see you again.” Sarge greeted his guests. Shortly after his first inauguration, he was contacted by Sarah Rutledge to express her congratulations. He knew of the Rutledge family through his conversations with John Morgan and Prescott Peninsula. When Sarge devised a plan to bring relief supplies, generators, and replacement parts for the power grid components, Morgan suggested that he locate Sarah. Her family was highly respected in the South and she had considerable sway over the man appointed FEMA governor in Atlanta. Her influence helped pave the way for the Sunbelt states to join him at the Constitutional Convention. He also made a powerful, wealthy ally in the process.
“Sarge, it has been such a long time,” said Sarah. “I’d hoped to visit before the change of administrations.”
Sarge chuckled and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “You could spend the night in the Lincoln Bedroom on the evening of the nineteenth and wake up the afternoon of the twentieth. You’d feel right at home on both days.”
She playfully slapped his shoulder and laughed. “I wholeheartedly support continuity of government, as long as it’s my government.”
Sarge gave her a friendly hug and then turned to shake Senator Rutledge’s hand. Despite enjoying the moment with his old friend, Senator Rutledge, and the U. S. Senate he led, was the reason for the meeting.
“Paul, we got blindsided yesterday,” Sarge began as he led the group to the seating area by the fireplace. The sun brought slightly warmer temperatures, which began to melt the snow delivered by the nor’easter. The fire provided a sense of coziness to the Oval Office. If it were up to Sarge, there’d be a fire burning there daily.
Senator Rutledge began to recount the day’s events. “Yes, Mr. President, and I’m sorry for that. I wasn’t certain of the result, but my gut instinct told me we had a problem, which prompted my call to Donald late yesterday.”
“Well, thank you for that heads-up although it didn’t lessen the sting of defeat,” said Sarge.
“Or the betrayal,” added Donald, unable to contain himself.
“Yes, the betrayal,” said Senator Rutledge. “What I observed yesterday, taken alone as isolated events, would’ve appeared to be politics as usual in Washington. In hindsight, especially in light of the result, it’s become clear to me that someone is working behind the scenes to push this legislation through.”
“Someone powerful, Sarge,” interjected Sarah.
“Do you have an opinion before we move on to today’s vote?” asked Sarge.
“I do, but Paul doesn’t want to believe me,” replied Sarah. “I will find out who it is eventually, although at that point, the vote will be history and we’ll have to deal with the aftermath.”
“I still want to know,” said Donald, who was still fuming at the outcome in the House. Despite the situation in Taiwan, Sarge was aware that Donald would be seeking revenge for the betrayal. He’d also be focused on the vote this afternoon above all other White House functions.
Senator Rutledge turned his attention to Sarge. “As you know, the Senate is evenly divided. Because we have forty-eight senators and three of the independents caucus with us, we control a slim fifty-one to forty-nine majority.”
“We can only lose one,” mumbled Donald.
“Is the vice president available to cast a tiebreaker?” asked Senator Rutledge.
“Yes, she just returned to Andrews and will stop by her residence before making her way to Capitol Hill. She advised that her chief of staff will be contacting your office to offer assistance. Paul, if there are any senators who need encouragement on this vote, let Abbie speak to them. Hell, send them to me. I stayed away from yesterday’s vote. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Senator Rutledge nodded and then glanced at Donald. Rutledge knew that Donald was spearheading the vote from the administration’s perspective and that he took the defeat personally.
“Mr. President, with all sincerity, you could have talked to each of the members and it wouldn’t have mattered. I’ve reviewed the roll call provided by the House Tally Clerks under the supervision of the Clerk of the House. They were valid, and the defectors, if you will, could not have been on anybody’s radar.”
Donald spoke up on the issue. “We relied heavily upon a list compiled with the assistance of the Majority Whip. Admittedly, we took quite a few votes for granted based upon past relationships. As it turns out, those who switched sides were beyond reproach.”
“Today, we need fifty-one votes,” said Sarge. “Paul, will you take an active role with the Majority Whip? You’re the only person I trust on the Hill right now.”
“Sarge, that’s why I’m here as well,” said Sarah. “My donations run deep into the Senate. I’ll look every darn one of the rascals in the eye until I get the truth.”
“I can’t imagine you’d do it any other way,” said Sarge with a laugh. “I remember the first time we met. Your eyes probed my brain the whole conversation.”
“I was studying you to determine your sincerity and commitment. Sarge, I knew immediately you were the right man to lead this country. It’s a shame they instituted those awful term limits.”
Sarge let out a boisterous laugh. “Don’t even think about it, Lady Rutledge. I plan on bidding farewell on January 20. I verily believe that my wife, and my Chief of Staff, would tie me up and drag me through the front door if I proposed otherwise.”
Chapter 49
10:30 a.m.
Somewhere over the American Southwest
Phase one of Operation Golden Retriever had begun twenty-four hours prior with the redeployment of the two carrier strike groups toward Taiwan. The carrier USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. reversed its southerly course through the Sea of Japan with the transmission of a single code word. Two cruisers and six destroyers led the nation’s newest aircraft carrier and shot through the Tsugaru Strait, which divides Japan, leading the way toward a rendezvous within striking distance of the narrow body of water between China and Taiwan.
The abrupt maneuver coupled with the Japanese Navy’s unnecessary, but certainly appreciated, incursions into the Yellow Sea between South Korea and China confused North Korea while catching the Chinese off guard.
Phase two of the operation was under way as air transports were being sent from various U.S. military installations in the Western Pacific, bound for the Hualien Airport along Taiwan’s east coast. The State Department had issued communiques to Taipei City and Beijing that the transports were being made available to America
n citizens who were concerned for their safety due to the recent uprising. Because of the unrest, the Taiwan government could not assure Americans of safe passage out of the country from its major commercial airports.
Phase three of Operation Golden Retriever boarded a Xi’an Y-20 military transport at Andrews AFB for the direct flight to Guam. The irony of boarding the Chubby Girl, the nickname given by the aviation industry to the Y-20 because of its wide fuselage, was not lost on Drew. Placed into service ten years ago during a period when U.S.-Chinese relations were agreeable, the government had purchased six of the strategic airlifters for missions like this one, which involved long-range deployments and required a sense of urgency. With its eight-thousand-mile range and cruising speed of nearly six hundred miles per hour, the Y-20 was the perfect aircraft to place the Aegis team in position to do battle with the people who built it.
While most of the guys were catching up on some sleep, Drew thought back upon his career and the men he led into these special operations. Over time, U.S. government agencies began increasing their reliance on special ops veterans willing to provide security to Americans in the world’s hot spots.
When Steven Sargent had brought Drew on board, the Aegis Team performed work almost exclusively for the interests of John Morgan and the Boston Brahmin although none of the operators were made aware of this.
After Steven was killed, Drew earned his way into the Aegis operations by way of his outstanding security work for Abbie, Morgan’s daughter, and his efforts on behalf of the Loyal Nine. He was honored when Sarge invited him to join the Loyal Nine to fill the incredible void left by Steven’s death.
After the election, Abbie and Drew were married, and it was agreed that he was too emotionally involved with the new vice president to remain the head of her security detail. Sarge had bigger plans for Drew, which involved his taking the reins of an elite team of operators working for Aegis, but called upon exclusively by Sarge.
Drew led special ops missions for the government and the interests of the Boston Brahmin although the requests for the latter had changed over the years. Gone were the days of assassinations and the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques. Sarge’s requests were far different than the heavy-handed approach used by his predecessor, John Morgan.
Sarge provided Drew a vision for the use of Aegis during his years in office. He wanted the team to be made up of accomplished former operators from all branches of the armed services. They needed to be talented without blemishes on their service records. Sarge could not afford to go outside the U.S. military to achieve certain objectives if he had men prone to going off the reservation or who had a record of insubordination, which could come out in the media if a mission was exposed.
Drew discussed Sarge’s criteria and they both agreed money was a big part of the recruiting inducements available to potential operators. Drew put out feelers throughout the ranks of former SEALs, Army Rangers, and Delta Force operators, offering guaranteed six-figure salaries, top-of-the-line equipment, and most importantly, the opportunity to return to the camaraderie and the purpose they loved as elite operatives within the armed forces.
He also understood something else because it applied to him as well. It was something he’d never admitted to Abbie for fear it might frighten her. If comradery and money were the yin, the thrill of danger was the yang in the equation. One thing each of the operators would admit to one another, in private, was they loved to hunt and kill, knowing that someone was returning the favor.
Drew, King, and many other special operators balanced the risk and rewards, then chose to join Aegis. Drew and King assessed their guys and eventually settled on eight elite operatives to make up the Global Response Team. This group, which named themselves the Elite Eight, had performed admirably when called upon.
They’d saved lives. They’d deterred military coups. They’d foiled assassination attempts. Next, as phase three of Operation Golden Retriever, they’d lead the charge into Taipei City to secure the AIT compound and rescue a beloved ambassador who also happened to be a family friend. Drew knew his guys were up for the challenge.
Chapter 50
11:00 a.m.
The Trump Townhouse
Trump International Hotel
Washington, DC
“I’m not one for sports analogies, Mother, but as our dear friend Robert Kraft once said, let’s push this one over the goal line,” said Gardner Lowell as he and his mother, Constance, reviewed a chart of one hundred senators just emailed to him by the mysterious Mr. West. The chart, obtained off the laptop of the Senate Majority Whip, was the blueprint the Whip was using to deliver the fifty-one nay votes in the Senate this afternoon. The anticipated tally was fifty-one nays.
“Gardner, I don’t know what that means, however, if it helps you win the day, then I wholeheartedly agree with Bob.”
Gardner continued to review the names on the roster. A wicked grin came across his face. “I’m pleased to see that my new friend, the young beauty queen from Colorado, is still showing up in the nay column. They will continue to put subtle pressure on her, but she will not bend. She’s had a taste of what wealth and power can deliver for her, and I’m certain she liked it.”
“You still need one more vote to overcome John’s daughter exercising the tiebreaker.”
“There are two likely candidates for defection to the yea column, both of which could backfire on me if they remain loyal to Sarge. Handled improperly, they could very well go public or, at the very least, expose my activities to the White House.”
Constance returned to her seat on the sofa and summoned her butler to bring her a cup of peppermint tea. She’d eaten something disagreeable to her stomach and it was providing her some indigestion.
“Am I familiar with these senators?” asked Constance.
“One is from Vermont, an often overlooked senator who took the seat of Bernie Sanders following his death. He had labeled himself an independent like his predecessor, but his loyalties lie on the democrat side of the aisle. He was late in making his decision because he wanted to poll his constituents for direction on his vote.”
“That’s a coward’s way out,” quipped Constance as she daintily took another sip of tea. “Once elected, you do things your way but provide the illusion to your constituents that your politics mesh perfectly with theirs. You know this, Gardner. Make them believe you’re speaking directly to them when you look into the camera.”
“He isn’t my primary target,” continued Gardner. “This vote is quite different from normal lawmaking in Washington. Regardless of whether the Pacific Statehood Act passes in its current form or the Constitutional Convention brings the states back into the Union without condition, the electoral dynamics will change for years to come. Most members of Congress are astute enough to sense the winds of change.”
“Son, you are quite the match for that cerebral Henry Sargent.”
Gardner laughed and walked over to his mother, kissing her cheek. “Perhaps so, on a cerebral level. However, I have one major advantage that our friend Henry Sargent doesn’t have.”
“What’s that, dear?”
“A moral compass. He has one. I don’t, which is why I will always win.”
Chapter 51
Noon
The Rose Garden
The White House
Washington, DC
Throughout America’s history, the nation’s citizens adopted certain traditions that enabled them to display their patriotism. Patriotism was this country’s way of showing commitment to their home, the values upon which their nation was built, and the principles of their Founding Fathers. Whether it was America’s children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before school each day, or red-blooded Americans standing in reverence to the flag during the playing of the National Anthem during a sporting event, American patriots were unabashedly supportive of these traditions.
Over the years, the White House adopted certain traditions that, by comparison, did not
carry the patriotic importance of the National Anthem, but reflected the history and reverence for what made this country great.
The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, and the ceremonial pardoning of the prize bird, dated back to the 1940s when America was in the midst of the Second World War and our young men were fighting for our freedoms.
History reflects that as early as 1873, a Rhode Island turkey farmer would provide the president a turkey every year as a gift at Thanksgiving. The tradition continued unto the farmer’s death in 1913, when other turkey farmers picked up the practice.
From the 1940s until the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the turkeys were not pardoned, although a couple of presidents elected to spare the bird from its certain demise and delivery to the White House Thanksgiving table.
President Ronald Reagan started the concept of pardoning the turkey in 1987. Charlie, sent to him from a petting zoo, was given an official presidential pardon largely as a snarky response to criticism from the media that President Reagan received for considering a pardon for Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North. The practice carried forward and continued under Sarge’s administration.
In typical fashion, something that became a playful tradition in the White House was often mocked by comedians and ultimately politicized as harmful to the birds by animal rights activists. Sarge never understood this line of thinking in light of the fact that forty years ago the prized turkeys ended up on the dinner table.
Sarge bundled up in a herringbone trench coat and made his way to the Rose Garden ceremony to say a few words and provide the official pardon. Despite the significant events surrounding him on this day, it was important for him to adhere to events like this one.
Americans looked up to him for guidance and strength in times of trouble. Whether it be a potential war brewing in East Asia, or a political conflict on Capitol Hill, Americans wanted to be proud of their institutions, and the annual turkey pardon was one of them.
