Frank closed the screen on the laptop saying, “Let’s get that first aid review underway. We have to get in there and help whoever is left alive.”
AP NEWS FLASH: The attacks in Detroit and Dallas Fort Worth are now joined by additional attacks in Israel. It appears that all five attacks occurred within 90 seconds of one another in a well-coordinated nuclear assault. This is clearly the largest single attack in the history of man. No official reports on the number of fatalities or injuries. Given the dense population centers that were targeted it is likely that the number will be in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions.
AP ECONOMIC NEWS FLASH: In a hastily prepared statement, OPEC countries have slashed exports to 10 % of the levels seen just one month ago. The economic impact of this will be felt far and wide in every industry. Every investment sector on all international markets is continuing to spiral downward, except oil. Speculators are flocking to purchase oil futures while they still can. Some people are calling this move a grotesque attempt at profiting from a tragedy. OPEC has stated that exports will remain reduced drastically until the member Nations can determine their own internal needs.
Chapter Fourteen
President Press sat behind the desk on Air Force One. He was watching the countdown timer mounted under the television camera marking time before his national address. He thought to himself that if anything he ever said was going to be seen globally, this would be it. He was well aware that nothing he would ever say would have greater potential impact.
This was the second time since taking office he would be delivering a hastily prepared speech in the middle of an unforeseen set of emergency circumstances. He had no doubt this would be the one of the two that people would remember. It would certainly be the one given prominent placement in history books from now until the end of time. He wasn’t used to thinking in those terms, but here he was Scott Press, ex-enlisted soldier about to deliver a speech that would be studied by future generations for its impact on a military clash of a size and scope yet to be determined. It wasn’t that he was so good at delivering a speech, but the circumstances being what they were, this situation called for nothing short of perfection. If he did well, people would remember. If he did poorly, this could be the end of his useful time in office.
Part of him secretly hoped that the other one would be largely forgotten. If only those future generations who would read his words in that the first speech were off the cuff and unscripted. This one was written, reviewed, and re-written in a little less than fifteen minutes. He hoped it would not be obvious from his delivery.
His one and only desire right now was to give the people watching around the world some level of comfort and hope for a better future in this time of mass confusion. Especially considering that he wasn’t sure if there was a future yet. If things kept going down the current path it was anyone’s guess. He hoped he could sell people on a potential bright future. He wasn’t nervous, he was focused like never before in his life. He knew what needed to be done, and he would do his best.
3… 2… 1…
“My fellow Americans, today there were five of the most horrific attacks this world has ever seen. These attacks came in the form of nuclear weapons. These were not the primitive weapons of World War 2, which was the only other time this type of weapon has been used in anger. These were far more modern, and far more destructive than those available at the dawn of the nuclear age. This has forever changed the world we live in.
“These attacks were located in Fort Worth, Texas, Detroit, Michigan, and three locations within the tiny country of Israel. We are still trying to determine the exact locations of the Israeli strikes.
“So far we have only determined the epicenters, and approximate sizes of these attacks. We are starting to receive damage reports, but it will be some time before we have an accurate assessment, or understanding of the extent of the damage. As difficult as it will be, I ask for your patience in this matter, as we want to only release accurate information.
“There will be a large number of pictures, videos, discussion, and even speculation about these attacks. As much of the data concerning the actual damage that can be verified and reasonably distributed will be released as quickly as possible, and given directly to the public by official channels. My administration will not release information we are unable to verify.
“We are absolutely certain that these attacks were perpetrated by a Nation-State. This was not, and could not, have been a terrorist organization. We can now say for certain, thanks to some rapid work by our intelligence services, that the country behind this unprovoked, unwarranted and barbaric attack was Iran,” he paused to allow this information to sink into the viewing audience.
He hoped that despite his being on an airplane that he was coming through clearly. He did not want anyone, especially those people he assumed would be watching from the United Nations, the Allied Nations, and Iran to have to guess at what he had said.
He was unaware that the quality of transmission equaled that of any ground based television studio, and no one watching around the world could tell he was on an airplane.
“For the moment I am officially terminating our diplomatic relationship with Iran. Anyone working for their government that is currently in the United States will be leaving as soon as is practical, one way, or the other. They can either leave of their own accord, or we will escort them out. The only exception is that of their representation at the United Nations, in New York City. We urge the United Nations to have those representatives explain to the world their motivation for these actions immediately.
“I am also formally requesting that Congress pass a declaration of War against Iran. Such a state of war will continue until Iran comes before the United Nations, explains their grievance, and we reach a peaceful solution, or, alternatively, they surrender to us on the battlefield. Make no mistake. We are mobilizing for war. The Joint Chiefs are executing that task as I speak. We will not bow down as a result of these unwarranted attacks.
“Next, I want the citizens of Fort Worth, Detroit, and the impacted areas of Israel to know that our prayers are with you. However, we are going to do a great deal more than just pray.
“I have ordered every available Military Emergency Care Unit, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and requested that the Red Cross help in the U.S. cities. I will also say right now, without hesitation, that we will be aiding Israel in their recovery effort, in whatever fashion we are able. We have assets already in that area of the world, and they will be brought into Israel as quickly as practical.
“There are a wide variety of ways in which this assistance will come. But first, before we get too detailed, I want to be specific about these military units entering the U.S. cities. They will either be hospital units or special advanced teams that will come in prior to medical, engineering and logistics teams. They are not going into these cities as policing units. These are not troops designed for combat.
“We have not been invaded. Iran does not have sufficient military strength, operating alone, to invade the Continental United States. These units will not be there to enforce laws, or policing activities.
“The U.S. military is designed for the sole purpose of protecting and defending the citizens of the United States, not to turn on, or arrest them. We have reviewed satellite images of the entire country and I must reiterate that no invasion has occurred. Additionally, we have no reason to believe that one is imminent.