Executive Intent

“Yes, sir, one gets through,” Carlyle said. “An AA-12 radar-guided missile. A copy of our AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, fired from one of the Russian fighters. It explodes near the bomber’s tail, severely damaging it.”

“But the bomber not only keeps going, but shoots down the Russian fighter? How does it do that? With the laser?”

“The bomber is an EB-1C Vampire, a highly modified version of the B-1B Lancer bomber,” Carlyle said. “It can carry a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles.”

“McLanahan’s magic bombers,” President Gardner said, running a hand through his hair wearily. “I should have known. The guy could be thousands of miles away but still somehow involved.” He turned to Chief of Staff Kordus. “Didn’t you say McLanahan is personally involved with that bomber’s pilot?”

“Yes, sir,” Kordus said. “They’ve been seeing each other for a few years.”

“Maybe McLanahan was involved in this,” the president said. “Find out where McLanahan is; see if there’s enough reason for the Pentagon or the FBI to question him.” Kordus made a note to himself on his PDA to follow up with Defense and Justice. “This whole incident could have been invented by McLanahan to goad the Russians into attacking one of our planes. Then he can go on the campaign trail and complain that I’m not being tough enough on the Russians.”

“The campaign trail?” Secretary of State Barbeau exclaimed, looking up from her notes in surprise. “McLanahan? What’s he running for, Mr. President?”

Gardner realized he had way outspoken himself, so he waved a hand dismissively at the videoconference camera. “I meant lecture circuit, Stacy,” he said. “But I wouldn’t put it past him to do something crazy like that.” Judging by the blank expressions on their faces, many of the president’s advisers obviously didn’t agree, but no one said anything. The president turned their attention back to the holographic replay. “The bomber meets up with the tanker; they get jumped by four fighters from that carrier, and then one is taken out…how?”

“By one of those Thor’s Hammer interceptor projectiles from a Kingfisher weapon garage,” Carlyle said.

“Direct hit, too,” General Bain said, a boyish grin on his face. “Blew that plane into pixie dust-literally. Obliterated by a guided rod of tungsten steel traveling at fifteen thousand miles an hour!”

“And who gave the order to launch one of those things?” the president asked. “You, General?”

Bain quickly wiped the smile off his face. “No, sir.”

“I know I certainly didn’t! Miller?”

“The interim commander aboard Armstrong Space Station, a Major Jessica Faulkner, gave the order, sir,” Turner said.

“We may set an all-time world record for the number of persons whom I am going to shit-can, kick in the ass, or both!” the president thundered. “A major ordered the destruction of a Russian fighter, and it wasn’t in self-defense? What’s next-an airman one-striper is going to sink their aircraft carrier? I thought I ordered that those Thor’s Hammer things not be used and be removed from orbit? Include the space-station personnel, Ann Page, and the Secretary of the Air Force in the incident investigation.”

“Undersecretary Page resigned her post, sir.”

“I don’t care. I want her included in the investigation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What about the crew from that Vampire bomber, Miller?” Vice President Phoenix asked.

“Still listed as missing, sir,” the secretary of defense said. “The Reagan carrier group is heading west and launching a rescue mission as we speak.”

A phone buzzed, and Kordus picked it up, listened, then put the call on hold. “What the hell is it, Walter?” the president asked.

“President Truznyev of Russia on the line for you, sir.”

He motioned for everyone at the conference table to pick up their dead-extensions, then punched the “HOLD” button again.

“Put him on.”

A moment later: “Mr. President, this is President Truznyev, via an interpreter.”

“Hello, Mr. President. This is about the incident in the Gulf of Aden, I presume?”

“‘Incident’? Three Russian airmen are dead and one is missing,” Truznyev said. “In addition, several sailors were injured due to your bomber’s provocative high-speed pass near our vessels, which also sustained some damage. This is more than just an ‘incident,’ sir-it is an act of war!”

“What it is, Mr. President, is a terrible misunderstanding, a complete lack of communication, and the case of a bomber pilot who far exceeded her authority and performed in an extremely careless and reckless manner,” Gardner said. “But that doesn’t excuse you sending four more jets out there and attacking the bomber and its tanker.”

“I understand that you would choose to forget about the Russian pilots killed by missiles launched from that very same bomber,” Truznyev said. “But I have another grave concern to ask you about, Mr. Gardner, and I hope you will be truthful with me, because tensions are already high in that region, and lying would only make matters worse.”

“Lying? Mr. President, I’m not in the habit of lying. What is it that-”