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Carlton says, “Wandering around South Africa it seems, heading to Johannesburg. It seems he hopped a ride from the Air Force, some general who owed Abrams a favor.”
“What the hell is he doing there?”
Carlton says, “Best guess is that he might be trying to retrieve Benjamin Lucas. From the Chinese. By himself.”
Barrett laughs. “If he pulls that off, I’ll appoint him director. There’s going to be a vacancy by this time tomorrow.”
A knock on the door.
“All right,” Barrett says. “Let our guests in. We’ve no time to waste.”
Carlton opens the door and a male Army four-star general walks in, along with a female Army colonel. They are dressed in the new Army green service uniforms, introduced a few years back in homage to similar uniforms worn by the Greatest Generation back in World War II. In Barrett’s eyes, they’ve stepped out of a game of make-believe from 1944.
Barrett stands up, walks around his desk, buttons his light-blue jacket. “Thank you both for coming.”
He shakes the hand of General Henry Peterson, head of the United States Cybercommand, then Colonel Karen Yankins, his deputy. He’s tanned, with short black hair and brown eyes. Yankins is about a foot shorter, with closely trimmed blond hair, wearing plain black-rimmed glasses.
“Please,” he says, pointing to the couch. “Have a seat. How was your flight up from Fort Meade?”
“Reasonable, Mr. President,” Peterson says. “No complaints.”
The colonel just nods.
Peterson’s carrying a briefcase, and the colonel has two heavy-looking black satchels. As they sit down, the satchels and briefcase are placed on the floor next to them. Barrett takes the couch, pointing up to Carlton.
“This is Carlton Pope, my special assistant. He’s at my side every day, morning to night. He has my ultimate trust, so I have no hesitation discussing what we’re about to say in front of him. All right?”
The two Army officers nod.
“Good,” Barrett says. “General Peterson, I’m aware that the Cybercommand has in its possession, a cyber-offense plan called Case Shanghai. Correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Peterson says. “We ran a simulated war game with that same scenario in December.”
“Was it a successful war game?”
Peterson says, “Mr. President, well, the means of declaring a success is a variable, meaning that there are certain outcomes we look for in such an exercise. If you’d like, I could prepare an overview of the war game’s results.”
Barrett says, “That won’t be necessary.”
“Sir?”
“At twelve hundred hours today, General Peterson, the United States Cybercommand will commence Case Shanghai against the People’s Republic of China. That is a direct order. Do you understand?”
Peterson seems shocked, and so does Colonel Yankins.
“Sir?”
Barrett softly says, “I said, the United States Cybercommand will commence Case Shanghai against the People’s Republic of China at twelve hundred hours today. That’s in just under three hours. Do you understand my order?”
The general says, “Yes, sir.”
Finally, it’s all coming together,that voice inside of him says. The same voice that told him years back he was destined to greatness, to be chosen to save his country. What that voice said is being confirmed at this very moment.
“Good. Let’s begin.”
CHAPTER 119
IN HER ATTACHED garage, CIA Director Hannah Abrams takes a deep breath, and then steps into the rear of her armored Chevrolet Suburban, her leather briefcase in her right hand. She’s not alone back there, and she pats the hand of her companion, Jean, as Ralph settles in on the other side.
