Pandemic

"We also have a base in Yemen, just outside Aden at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula." Fischer accentuated each vowel in "peninsula." "It's less than three hundred miles from there to our target. And as luck would have it, our elite Delta Force is stationed nearby. We can easily fly the boys across the Gulf of Aden to Hargeysa. With F16s from the Lincoln and Eisenhower flying support, we can transport them over in C-17s along with long-range assault helicopters. The other chiefs and I agree this is the best option. Really, the only option. General…"

A dotted line took off from the tip of Yemen, arced over the Gulf of Aden, and continued inland a few miles over the Karkar Mountains, stopping just short of Hargeysa. The compact, white-haired general again shook his finger at the map. "There's an airfield west of Hargeysa, which we will secure first to bring in supplies and ground forces. However" he emphasized in a slow drawl. "We cannot afford so much as one infected terrorist sneaking off their base. So the original assault has to be carried out with stealth and lightning speed. General…"

Fischer waited while the slide changed on the screen to a more detailed map centered on the hospital base. A dotted red line formed around the base. "The air force and navy fighters will establish a kill zone from the air within a three-mile radius of the base." Several Xs appeared south and west of the base. "An advance team of paratroopers will land and secure the perimeter. From the western airstrip, the rest of the ground troops — Army Rangers, Delta Force, and other special ops forces — will join them. Once in position, they will execute a three-pronged assault on the compound from the east, west, and south." The old man's lips cracked into a smile. "We're calling it: Operation Antiseptic."

"What size force will we required?" Secretary Whitaker asked gruffly,

"The operation will involve 200 paratroopers, 800 other ground troops, and 150 aircraft, give or take."

"And the time needed to secure the base?" Whitaker demanded.

Fischer nodded. "From the moment we leave Yemen, the plan is to secure the compound within ninety minutes. One-twenty tops."

The President leaned forward in his chair. "When will you be ready, General?"

"We can be ready in twelve hours, sir, which would make it roughly 0200 in Somalia."

A senator, whose name escaped Haldane, spoke up. "And what if one or two of the terrorists sneak out of the compound with the virus?"

"As I said, Senator," Fischer said. "If something so much as twitches in the desert, we're going to know about it. Any unauthorized personnel outside of the compound will be neutralized."

Secretary Thomason touched the base of her pen to her lips. "General Fischer, this is a very well thought out plan." She smiled gracefully. "But it does not address the very likely possibility that some of the terrorists may have already left the base with their virus."

Fischer turned to National Secretary Advisor Home with a shrug.

"A valid point, Madam Secretary." Horne nodded. "That is why we have invited our counter-bioterrorism experts to the meeting." She looked over at Gwen. "Dr. Savard, can you bring us up to speed on the state of our preparedness in the event of a viral assault."

Savard nodded and rose from her chair. "We have already enacted our Emergency Response Plan to Biological Attack, or ERPBA, in every urban center." With the confident poise Haldane had come to expect from her, Gwen outlined the specifics of the plan for the members of the NSC. She spoke of the country's readiness to face mass casualties, but emphasized the possibility that resources could be overwhelmed, especially if the virus spread to health-care workers. She paused to take a deep breath, and then looked directly at the President. "There is one other potential breakthrough. We have an experimental drug that is showing promise in early testing with the Gansu Flu. As I speak, arrangements are being made to manufacture the drug on a mass scale. We should have a reasonable stockpile in one week."

"Are you certain this drug will work?" Thomason asked.

"No, we are not, Madam Secretary," Gwen said unflinchingly.

Home looked at Noah with a quizzical frown. "Dr. Haldane, do you have anything to add?"

He swallowed. "I think Dr. Savard's team has done wonders in preparing the country as well as can be expected." He shrugged. "And I think CNN has done a commendable job in scaring the bejesus out of most Americans."

There was a scattering of laughter.

"Fear is an advantage in this situation, as it will keep many people behind closed doors and help diminish spread." Haldane looked down at the table. "But without knowing the size and methods of their 'army of martyrs,' it is impossible to predict the outcome. Despite the best of preparations, the human toll could still be catastrophic."