“Recall Task Force TALON to Pecos East immediately. We’ve got work to do.”
“I’m sure the feds and the state of California will want a debriefing on…”
“Sergeant Major, I gave you an order,” Jason said. “Assemble the team at Pecos East immediately.”
“What about Lieutenant Maxwell’s and Sergeant Moore’s bodies, sir?”
“When they’re recovered, we’ll return and take them back to their families,” Jason said. “Our job is to get that sonofabitch Zakharov. Move out.”
Ray Jefferson liked the sound of the voice on the other end of that radio conversation. “Yes, sir,” he responded, smiling. “All Task Force TALON squads, secure your locations and assemble at rally point Delta. Move!”
Washington, D.C.
A short time later
This time there was none of the usual pomp and ceremony when the President of the United States visits Congress: no ceremonial banging on the chamber door requesting admittance; no loud announcement of his arrival by the sergeant-at-arms; no welcoming applause; no handshakes. The assembled members of both houses of Congress simply rose to their feet and remained silent as the President, surrounded by Secret Service, walked quickly down the aisle to the podium.
The Vice President was not there, still in a secure location outside the capital due to security concerns; his spot was taken by the Senate majority leader. The Speaker of the House was in his usual position, behind and to the President’s left; the bulk of the bulletproof vest he wore obvious beneath his suit, as was the case with most of the ranking members of Congress. Most of the Supreme Court justices, Armed Forces chiefs of staff, Cabinet members, and White House senior staff were in attendance, as were the members of Congress themselves. There were just a few observers allowed. Every door was guarded by a uniformed U.S. Marine Corps soldier with full battle gear and assault rifle.
“Mr. Chairman, Mr. Speaker, members of Congress, thank you for responding so quickly to my request to address a joint session,” the President began moments after reaching the podium. “I know over the past several weeks you have been informally debating the idea of declaring war on terrorism. Today, that’s exactly what I’m asking Congress for this afternoon: I wish Congress to issue a declaration of war against terrorism.
“I have already declared the entire San Francisco Bay area a federal disaster area and have activated the Joint Civil Response Force to help the state of California deal with the emergency. As commander in chief, I have federalized the California National Guard and Reserve Forces Command to help local and state authorities in rescue, recovery, medical, relief, and security efforts; I have directed the Secretary of Defense to assign active-duty units based in the U.S. to U.S. Northern Command and to be made available for defense and security assignments throughout North America; and I have ordered the highest possible level of security for all oil and gas, chemical, power production, water, and transportation facilities all across the United States.
“But all of this not enough—not nearly enough. Our resources, which were already stretched thin after the attack on Kingman City, are now at the complete exhaustion point. My only option is to request from Congress full war authority to muster resources to defend our nation and to deploy worldwide to hunt down and destroy these terrorists. I am asking Congress for a declaration of war on terrorism.
“Specifically, I am asking Congress to authorize all available resources of the United States of America to investigate, indict, pursue, capture, or destroy terrorists anywhere in the world. I specifically refer to the man known as Colonel Yegor Viktorvich Zakharov, whom we believe was the mastermind and weapons procurer of the nuclear attacks on Kingman City, Texas, as well as the attacks this morning in San Francisco. This resolution also pertains to his coconspirators around the world, and to any person, group, organization, or nation that harbors, protects, assists, or facilitates his movements or activities, past or present.
“I am also requesting one more thing from Congress: repeal of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878,” the President went on. “The act was designed to keep federal military troops from violating the people’s constitutional rights by acting in a warlike manner to civilians on American soil without due process. What it has succeeded in doing, however, is to keep America incapable of defending itself against an attack on its own soil. The President needs the authority to deploy the full range of military forces anywhere, at any time, for any and all purposes in order to defeat this enemy. It cannot be restrained or hampered by the fear of crossing state or local jurisdictions.
“The war is no longer ‘over there’; the oceans no longer insulate us; and the enemy is using weapons and tactics that were once reserved only for the most extremely desperate battlefields. We are not fighting in the aftermath of a civil war—we are fighting a strong and determined enemy that can destroy this nation if we allow it. It is time for the U.S. military to be given the authority to use its power right here on our own soil to defend our great nation. As commander in chief, I promise I will not waver or shirk my responsibility to defend our nation; but I must be given the tools I need to combat terrorism wherever I find it, whether foreign or domestic.
“I therefore ask Congress…no, I demand that you pass a war resolution against terrorism, and that you repeal the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 and allow U.S. military commanders and the forces under their command to take any and all measures necessary to defend and protect the United States of America right here at home. Time is of the essence; the very future of our nation is at stake. May God bless and protect the United States of America.”
As the stunned members of Congress got to their feet, the President stepped off the dais and walked out of the chamber without speaking or shaking hands with anyone. He was escorted under very tight security to his waiting armored limousine. His chief of staff and National Security Adviser were already in the limo waiting. The President took a deep breath and loosened his tie, slumping in his seat. “I picked one hell of a day to quit drinking,” he said wearily. “When do you think the vote will come in?”
“They have a quorum, but they still might send the draft resolution down to committee,” Victoria Collins said.
“They won’t do that—not with almost continuous images of San Francisco being played on TV,” the President said. “What’s the latest straw poll?”
“The war resolution is evenly split,” Collins replied. “Repealing Posse Comitatus…still three to one against.”
“But that was before San Francisco,” Robert Chamberlain reminded her. “They might change their votes now. There was a nuclear bomb planted right in downtown San Francisco, for God’s sake!”
“They see enough National Guard troops in their cities, airports, and bus terminals now—they might think that’s plenty,” Collins said uneasily.
“I’m done waiting around here,” the President said resolutely. “Where do we start, Robert?”
“Task Force TALON is back at their base in New Mexico, sir,” Chamberlain replied. “They’re investigating several possibilities. The FBI is interviewing tollbooth operators to see if anyone can identify Pavel Khalimov, but we’re fairly certain that he was involved in the bombings in San Francisco.”
“Be sure TALON is fully reconstituted and ready to fight,” the President said.
“Does that mean I get control of the unit back, sir?”
“Damn right it does. I don’t want them on the backside of the power curve any longer—I want them right up front, wherever the investigation takes them. Get them moving, Robert. Find Zakharov and destroy him. Wherever it leads them, whatever it takes—find him and destroy him. They get anything they want: aircraft carriers, bombers, tankers, transport planes, troops, the works. But they find this Zakharov guy and destroy him.”
“Yes, sir,” Chamberlain responded. “It will be my pleasure—my extreme pleasure.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Dumyat, Egypt
Two nights later
It had not taken as long as he thought it might, but it was still well after 9 P.M. when Yusuf Gemici closed the last accounts receivable file on his computer and secured it with a password. He took a last sip of thick, strong Turkish coffee, popular in Egypt and around the Middle East, and was ready to start shutting the computer down when a gentleman and a lady came through the outer office door. The secretary—his slutty but very cute sister-in- law—was long gone for the day, so he rose and went out to the reception area. This was an intrusion, sure, but he
