“Why the sudden prayer?” the President asked.
“Station Two is also known as Sherwood Forest, the compartment where the missiles are housed, along with their primary controls,” Buster said. “Unless those guys can secure that station, we’ll have one live boomer with 16 missiles to worry about. Until Station Two is secure, America will be in the crosshairs.”
We could hear rapid gunfire. The video focused on Sherwood Forest. Three bodies lay on the deck, none wearing a SEAL uniform. Commander Bill Gillespie came into view. He was the newly appointed weapons officer for the Louisiana.
“Commander Gillespie is here to check on the missiles,” said Petty Officer Petrone, the SEAL with the videocam. We watched as Gillespie went from silo to silo. The camera was set on speaker so Baxter could communicate directly with Gillespie.
“Whatta you got commander?” Baxter asked.
“We got the flames of hell about to be unleashed in 15 minutes,” Gillespie said. “All of the nukes are armed. They’ll launch at five minute intervals. From what Captain Conklin told me, all are targeted against East Coast cities in the States.”
“This is President Benton,” Rolly said into the microphone. “Patch me into Commander Gillespie.”
“Gillespie here, sir.”
“Commander, how could the missiles be armed without my code? I put in the changes this morning.”
“The simple answer, sir, is that I don’t know. The codes appear to have been manually reset.”
“Mr. President,” I said, “If you recall, CNO Patterson was worried that the firing codes could be changed to manual. It looks like that’s what happened.”
“Get me President Blake,” Baxter said to his aide. “Ask him to come here to the control room.” He looked into the camera and said, “I don’t have any training or background for this situation, Mr. President. I’ve determined that both of our presidents should communicate on this one.”
Matt walked into the control room surrounded by SEALs. My God, he’s lost weight, I thought, but he still looks wonderful.
“Good morning, Dee,” he said. As simple as that – “Good morning, Dee.” How can he be so casual? We haven’t seen each other in weeks and we thought we may never be together again, and all the hell he has to say is ‘good morning.’ Then I realized something. Matt’s in a situation that is still potentially explosive. Here I am, nowhere near danger, and I expect him to say sweet nothings to me over a video feed. Snap out of it, I thought to myself. I just saw my Matt being Matt—calm under pressure.
“Get back here as soon as you can, honey, so we can jump into bed and screw our brains out.” Of course I didn’t say that. But I did think it. What I said was, “Wow, you lost weight. I guess the food wasn’t too good.”
This situation is getting so weird it should be done in a cartoon. Everybody on the Louisiana is sitting on 16 armed nuclear missiles, and Matt and I are shooting the shit like we’re in a grocery store.
“Mr. President,” Matt said.
“The name’s Rolly, sir,” said President Benton.
“Well my name’s Matt as you well know. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, please tell me what’s going on that I don’t already know about.”
“Bottom line, Matt, your weapons officer just confirmed that all 16 of the Louisiana’s missiles are armed and one has begun its countdown to launch. I believe that Captain Conklin has told you about the change in arming procedures. They were manually armed and are targeted toward American cities. The first is set to launch in 15 minutes and each will take off at five minute intervals after that.”
“Rolly, what kind of assets do we have anywhere near the Louisiana?” Matt asked.
“We have two frigates and two attack subs within five miles of you. I’ve already ordered them to converge on the Louisiana’s position.”
“Okay, here’s the plan,” said Matt, “but let me know what you think first, Rolly. You’re still the President. We need to off-load all personnel onto the two frigates and get them the hell out of here. If my submarine knowledge is as good as Dee taught me, we can dive the Louisiana by remote control. Is Commander Gillespie there?”
“Gillespie here, Mr. President.”
“From what I just learned,” Matt said, “the nukes were manually armed. Is there any way to disarm them?”
“Sir, except for the one that has begun its countdown, I think I can disarm the others.”
“You think, commander?” Matt said. “Can you give me something more solid to go on?”
“Yes, sir, I can disarm the other 15 nukes.”
“Well, Rolly,” Matt said, “Our problem is significantly less than it was a few minutes ago. We need to disarm the remaining 15 nukes, and dive the sub with the one that’s ticking. But we still have a problem with the missile that’s counting down. It will be one huge explosion deep under the sea. Dee, are you there?”
“I’m here, Mr. President.” I can’t believe I called Matt Mr. President, but the tension of the situation seemed to call for formality.
“Dee, does anything I’ve said make sense? You’ve become a submarine expert in the past few weeks. Tell me if the plan fits together.”
“It does make sense Mr. President—Matt. The critical element is time. After we dive the sub, it will implode when it hits a depth of 2,400 feet. I have no idea what that will do for the firing mechanism on the ticking missile. We need to have the surface ships and the attack subs out of there. One thing we don’t know. If the missile that’s ticking explodes from water pressure, will it set off explosions of the other missiles? That would make for one big nasty neighborhood.”
Mike Conklin left the control room abruptly, telling Commander Baxter that he’d be right back. He returned five minutes later, accompanied by a handcuffed Captain Petrov, the former Russian commander of the Louisiana.
“What’s up, Mike?” Matt said to Conklin.
“Captain Petrov,” said Conklin, “tell these people what you told me. Now.”
“I am not political. I am a patriotic man who loves his country. I have a wife and four children. I’m a sailor and an engineer.”
“I didn’t ask you for a fucking autobiography. Talk to us about your engineering experience, Captain,” Conklin said with a handgun pointed at Petrov’s head. “To be blunt, are you familiar with the arming mechanism for the ballistic missiles?”
“Yes,” said Petrov. “I helped to design the new protocols. I know how to arm and disarm a ballistic missile.”
“Let’s take Captain Petrov to Sherwood Forest,” Baxter said. They left the control room along with six SEALs.
“Zoom in on them, Mike,” President Benton said. “We want to see what’s going on.”
We all watched as Captain Petrov pressed buttons and turned dials.
“This missile was not only armed,” said Petrov, “but its timer was set. It is now inert. The others will take a total of a few minutes—plenty of time.”
The release of psychological pressure on the Louisiana as well as the White House was palpable. It was as if you looked up and saw a piano falling and about to hit you, when, at the last moment, you stepped out of the way. The operation was a complete success—we had the Louisiana back and soon I’d have my Matt.
“I just placed a quick phone call to Chief Justice Roberts, President Matt,” said Rolly Benton. “I told him to dust off the 25th Amendment and to prepare to administer an oath. I recommend, sir that you take the oath immediately where you are, and the chief justice can do it ceremoniously when you return to Washington. As you know the Constitution doesn’t specify who can administer the oath. Remember that Calvin Coolidge took the oath from his father, a notary public, after the death of President Harding.”
“Hey, Rolly,” Matt said, “you’re not dead, last I checked, and therefore it’s not an emergency. The transfer can take place when I get to Washington.”
Among other things, Matt is also a gentleman.
Chapter 31
; President Benton ordered Air Force One to meet Matt and Tony Riordan in London, their last stop on the way home. It would be too slow, all agreed, for Matt to return on the Louisiana. Of course the plane won’t be known officially as Air Force One until Matt is sworn in. Plans had to be made quickly, so Matt will take the oath in the House of Representatives chamber in the Capitol Building, the room where the president gives the State of the Union Address every year.
Along with a massive group of people, Matt stood before Chief Justice John Roberts to take the oath of office for the second time. I couldn’t stand the formal tension, so I leaned over to the microphone.
“This is the second oath of office you’ve taken, Mr. President,” I said. “Let’s make it stick this time.”
The crowd laughed and applauded. After the shit we’ve been through in the past few weeks, I figured some levity was in order.
“…so help me God.” Matt said as he finished the oath. The crowd roared.
“Madam Chief of Staff,” he said as he turned to me, “it gives me great pleasure to relieve you of your duties as Chief of Staff and to reinstall you as First Lady of the United States of America.” More cheers and applause.
I never thought I’d be so relieved to be fired from a position.
“Tony Riordan, you are hereby reinstalled as Chief of Staff to the president—with back pay.”
Again the crowd freaked out. These people were starting to look like the home crowd after a winning championship game. I had prepared a list of people that Matt should thank, as well as a list of things for him to do before the daily grind of office took over. I passed the list by Tony Riordan, the man who just succeeded me. Matt turned to Rolly Benton, who stood there with the widest smile I ever saw him wear.
“President Benton, on behalf of myself as well as the people of the United States, I thank you for your outstanding service to your country. I thank you for rescuing me and Tony, and for returning the USS Louisiana to its proper owner. And I thank you for keeping Dee busy.”
The ceremony broke at 1:15 and lunch was served to a specially invited group at the White House.
“Hey, skinny,” I said to Matt, “go for the pasta and the ice cream sundae. You look like a guy who’s been in solitary confinement for a few weeks.”
“I’ve been on a strict diet of beets and mashed potatoes,” Matt said as he leaned over next to my ear. He knows that breathing into my ear makes me crazy. “For all those weeks I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I still can’t, so I won’t try,” Matt said.
Although the festivities were enjoyable, I couldn’t wait to get back to the White House where we could be alone. I leaned over and whispered into his ear, just as he had whispered into mine.
“Hey, big guy, let’s go home and make love,” I said.
He didn’t say anything. He reached down under the table and caressed my leg. I reached over and rubbed his.
“How about now?” I said. The crowd was starting to get on my nerves.
“Great idea, hon,” he said, “but something tells me it would be inappropriate for the President to stand up with a hard on.”
Lunch was winding down, not that the assembled senators and congressmen were running out of things to say for the camera. Tony Riordan walked over to us with an envelope.
“This was just delivered by courier marked ‘your eyes only,’ Mr. President. It’s been through chemical analysis, so you can open it.”
Matt opened the envelope and held the letter so I could see it.
“Hello, President Blake:
In keeping with the tradition I set for myself, I won’t offer my congratulations, but only an observation. You somehow managed to pull it off again.
Until the next time,
Sincerely,
Bartholomew Martin”
Characters – The President is Missing
Akhbar, Gamal – See, Buster
Asidi, Basir – Iranian foreign ministry official
Behzadi, Ali – Iranian Mullah
Baxter, Dwight – Navy Seal Commander
Benton, Roland – Interim President of the United States
Bingham, Walter – Aide to Bartholomew Martin
Buster – CIA agent
Campbell, Joseph – Captain, USS Louisiana
Carlini, William – Director, CIA
Chernekov, Boris – New President of Russia
Conklin, Michael – Marine officer stationed aboard the Louisiana.
Gillespie, Bill – Commander, Louisiana’s weapons officer
Jackson, Phil – Petty Officer and guard over President Blake
Keaton, Wallace – Captain, head of the Office of Naval Intelligence
Patterson, Ashley – Admiral, US Navy, Chief of Naval Operations
Petrov, Boris – Russian submarine captain
Riordan, Tony – Chief of Staff to President Blake
Rouhani, Basim – Iranian Mullah
Spratt, Peter – Commander Submarine Forces, United States Navy
Tavana, Abad – Iranian Mullah, Grand Leader
Townsend, Jack – Attorney for Ludmila and Vasili Yuschenko
Tubin, James – Petty officer on the Louisiana.
Yakov, Sergei – Russian Minister of Commerce
Yuschenko, Ludmila – Wife of Admiral Yuschenko
Yuschenko, Vasili – Admiral, Russian Navy
Zhukov, Vladimir – General, Russian Army
About the Author
Russ Moran is the author of The Gray Ship, Book One of The Time Magnet series. It’s a story of time travel, romance, and a nuclear warship that finds itself in the Civil War. The Thanksgiving Gang is the sequel. A Time of Fear is Book Three, The Skies of Time is Book Four in the series, and The Keepers of Time is Book Five.
The Shadows of Terror is Book One of The Patterns Series, followed by The Scent of Revenge.
The President is Missing, is Book Three of the Matt Blake Series. Sideswiped and The Reformers are Books One and Two of the series.
He has also published five nonfiction books: Justice in America: How it Works—How it Fails; The APT Principle: The Business Plan That You Carry in Your Head; Boating Basics: The Boattalk Book of Boating Tips; If You’re Injured: A Consumer Guide to Personal Injury Law; How to Create More Time. He’s a lawyer and a veteran of the United States Navy. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, Lynda.
If you enjoyed The President is Missing, please consider leaving a review on amazon.com.
The Books of Russ Moran
All books are available on Amazon.com, and also on The Kindle.
The Gray Ship – Book One of The Time Magnet Series
http://amzn.to/16GPumH
“This provocative, intensely powerful novel is a must-read for sci-fi fans and Civil War aficionados, though mainstream fiction readers will find it heart-rending and inspiring as well. A rare read that’s not only wildly entertaining, but also profoundly moving.”
— Kirkus Reviews
The Thanksgiving Gang – Book Two of The Time Magnet Series http://amzn.to/1NzBs7N
“I had never read a book before written in an efficient, minimalistic prose... Instead of writing what most readers want to read, he gives voice to life-like characters, with their flaws and prejudices. They are not infallible superheroes. It’s always nice to find a new voice in fiction and to enjoy creativity at its best.”
— C. Ludewig
A Time of Fear – Book Three of The Time Magnet Series
http://amzn.to/1zdjaG9
“His story is fascinating, and adds even more depth to this already cavernously deep novel. Amazingly unique, chilling and well written, Moran weaves a future that is both desperate and hopeful. Blending modern fears with science fiction results in a tale that will keep you reading long into the night.” Five stars!”
—Heather
The Skies of Time – Book Four of The Time Magnet Series
http://amzn.to/1CCC3jg
In The Skies of Time, you will recognize th
e two main characters, Ashley Patterson, now an admiral, and her husband, Jack Thurber. They met and fell in love in The Gray Ship, and now they’re in for the adventure of their lives in The Skies of Time. Ashley and Jack have been such prominent characters in all four books of The Time Magnet Series that I feel like they’re old friends. You will also recognize some of the other characters. But if I told you who they are, it would ruin the fun.
“I’m big fan of this series and this one may be the best. I hope there is another book to this series since it keeps getting better. There is a few questions I have about certain events that makes the next one even more suspenseful. These are great books to binge read one after the other.”
— Time Travel Fan
The Shadows of Terror – Book One of the Patterns Series
http://amzn.to/1IDQzJS
A novel that explodes off the front page of your newspaper.
Terrorism now has a new face, a face that’s obscured in the shadows. The radical forces of destruction have learned to make themselves invisible to the West, and preventing a terrorist attack has become almost impossible.
A new war has begun, World War III.
Rick Bellamy, an FBI agent who specializes in counterterrorism, is engaged in his own war, a war with no end.
Bellamy’s wife, Ellen, a prominent architect, discovers that she’s in the middle of the greatest terror plot to date.
To defeat the enemy, Bellamy first has to uncover the clues, to shine a light on the shadows. He has to find patterns – before it’s too late.
“Move over James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark. There’s a new guy in town. Russ Moran’s new book – The Shadows of Terror.”
— Frank from Lynbrook
The Scent of Revenge, - Book Two in the Patterns Series.
http://amzn.to/1UvDRmw
The world is at war – World War III. FBI Agent Rick Bellamy and his wife, Ellen, find themselves in the middle of a sinister terror plot.
Someone is attacking young prominent women, inflicting a horrible disease.
Nobody knows its origin, nobody knows how to stop it, nobody knows how to cure it.
The President is Missing: A Matt Blake Novel (Matt Blake Series Book 3) Page 10
