The national security advisor said, “NRO and the Air Force have relaunched several reconnaissance birds to get our Defense Support Program back up since then. The new satellites have updated software. It’s been a top priority. Our detection systems were in place today.”
“Who fired, General?”
“We received initial indications of ballistic missile launches in the vicinity of North Hamgyong and Chagang provinces—”
The president said, “Where the hell is that? Can somebody please—”
“North Korea, sir,” replied General Rice.
“So the North Koreans are attacking us?”
“We don’t know for certain. The data is still coming in. It was shortly after the North Korean missile launch indications that our ballistic missile detection systems came under attack. For a short period, we were still able to get partial launch detection data. It was at this time that we saw several additional launch indications. That second set of missile launches did not, I repeat, not originate from North Korea.”
“More missiles? Then where—”
“The second wave of missile launches originated from the Russo-Chinese border. Where the North Korean missile launches were small in number, the second wave of launches was more substantial.”
“Where are those missiles headed?”
“We don’t know, sir. We’re attempting to get more data now.”
The national security advisor swore. “This is completely unsatisfactory! Those missiles could be headed this way. We need to consider launching our own strike.”
The president motioned for him to calm down. “Easy, now. We need to know who our enemy is first.”
A voice on the phone said, “Sir, this is the CIA director. The North Koreans are incapable of pulling off the level of military activity we’re seeing in the Western Pacific right now. These attacks are occurring over a very large geography, consistent with PLA and PLA Navy asset locations. Mr. President, I think we should consider this a Chinese military action. Possibly done in collaboration with the North Koreans.”
General Rice said, “The Russians could be involved as well. We can’t rule that out, based on where the second set of missile launches was detected.”
General Sprague said, “It’s possible that the second set of missiles was launched at North Korea, or a variety of other targets, sir. We simply don’t know.”
The national security advisor said, “But we’re being attacked by conventional means at locations throughout the Pacific! Surely we have to take that into consideration here. For God’s sake, let’s use our heads.”
Several voices began talking all at once, both in the presidential vehicle and over the phone.
The president quieted them with a question. “General Sprague, why don’t we have a better picture of what’s happening right now?”
General Sprague said, “Mr. President, less than thirty minutes ago, all of our data and communications with Thule and Pine Gap went offline. I don’t want to speculate, Mr. President, but they may have been attacked. At about the same time, several antisatellite weapons began destroying the majority of our early-warning birds circulating the globe.”
The president blew out a slow breath, then said quietly, “How is that possible?”
“They used different techniques, Mr. President. We believe the attacks were primarily space-based. They must have pre-positioned their own satellites near ours, in the same orbital plane. They likely used models that act like motherships, filled with smaller satellite craft. Those smaller satellites are sent out to attack ours, and most explode like mines when they come into contact with our satellites. Some of their weapons have lasers or mechanisms that will impair or destroy our sensors. These antisatellite weapons are very hard to detect, until it’s too late.”
“And you’re telling me that the Chinese have destroyed all of the satellites—”
“Mr. President, without more evidence, I can’t tell you with certainty that it was the Chinese.”
“Now what the hell is that supposed to mean? You just said—”
“Sir, the Russians also have this capability. We should also not rule out the possibility that China and Russia have made an alliance and are both acting against us. Or that one is spoofing us into thinking that the other is acting. Until we know more…”
President Griffin felt his throat constrict. He closed his eyes, a searing migraine starting to form.
His chief of staff said, “Are you alright, Mr. President?”
He opened his eyes. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine.”
The president’s body jerked as the vehicle turned sharply. They were now turning into Joint Base Andrews.
The general said, “Some communications lines are being restored. The updates are coming in pretty fast now. We now have confirmation from Pacific Command. US military units are engaged in combat operations with Chinese and North Korean personnel, on multiple fronts. We have just received reports of attacks on US bases… uh… wait one…” The general sounded like he was reading the reports in his hands. “There seems to be some confusion here, sir. These bases are INCONUS. Sir, I’ll need to reverify that. This says that Dover has been hit. That can’t be right.” The general’s voice became muffled as he spoke to one of his subordinates off the phone. The president heard him say, “You’re sure?” Then the general’s voice became clear. “Mr. President, I stand corrected. The information on the domestic base attack appears to be accurate. And we now have a report of a second domestic military base being attacked in Texas.”
The president and his chief of staff looked at each other in shock.
“Define attacked, General. What the hell is going on? Who the hell is attacking us inside the US?”
“Sir…” There was a delay as he spoke to someone next to him. “Sir, we’re still evaluating the information that’s coming to us, but it appears that a ground force, strength unknown, is attacking US Air Force bases inside the continental US.”
“A ground force? Inside the US? This is in addition to attacks on our Pacific military bases?”
“That’s correct. Yes, sir. I’m now being told that these attacks were by small groups of soldiers. Again, Mr. President, this is all very early. Preliminary information—”
“I understand. What do you know?”
“Stand by.”
There was a momentary silence, followed by General Rice saying, “Mr. President, we have reports of several… as far as we can tell, Chinese special operations teams have attacked some of our INCONUS Air Force bases.”
“When did this happen?”
“All in the past half hour, sir.”
“My God…”
“Yes, sir. I think we should consider this a full-scale attack on the United States. This isn’t limited to the Pacific Theater.”
“Sir, I’m being told that they hit a specific group of Air Force bases throughout the country. We think they’re trying to target our aerial refueling aircraft.”
“Why?”
The national security advisor answered. “Mr. President, if they can disrupt our ability to refuel aircraft in flight, they greatly reduce our ability to wage long-range aerial warfare.”
The president said, “Are these attacks ongoing?”
“No, sir, they appear to be put down. It’s too early to say with any confidence, but initial reports are that dozens of Air Force tankers were damaged or destroyed. Possibly more than one hundred.”
“Is that a lot?”
“It’s a lot, sir.”
General Sprague said, “Sir, I need to interrupt. We have another developing situation on the US Pacific coast. In the past thirty minutes, we have rerouted all commercial aircraft to land at non-US divert fields. But some of those commercial aircraft are still headed into the US, and they are unresponsive to communications. NORAD has informed us of some irregularities among these commercial aircraft—”