It wasn’t attainable. How may perhaps or not it's? He had recognized Jim MacPherson so much of his grownup existence. they'd been via quite a bit jointly. that they had served aspect by way of facet via probably the main tricky 8 years of any American management, at the very least when you consider that FDR’s tenure in the course of international struggle II or Lincoln’s time period through the Civil struggle. Terrorists had attempted to take them either out a number of instances, and approximately succeeded. yet MacPherson couldn’t relatively be lifeless. no longer now. now not on the top of his profession. Hadn’t they only became a nook within the worldwide warfare on Terror? Weren’t issues commencing to recover? With Russia neutralized, besides Iran and Syria, the realm was once getting quiet. Or quieter, not less than. Wasn’t it? after which it by surprise struck him. It wasn’t simply MacPherson who were killed within the blast. the 1st woman needs to be lifeless too, and the MacPhersons’ daughters. Bob Corsetti. Jackie Sanchez. the total management of the Republican get together. Oaks loose the pinnacle button of his costume blouse. He used to be having difficulty respiring. His pulse used to be racing. He might slightly take hold of the importance of what was once taking place to his nation. however the dying of such a lot of of his associates made it own. If Washington used to be long gone, so was once Marsha Kirkpatrick at nation. Scott Harris at FBI. Ken Costello on the NSC. Danny Tracker at CIA. All their employees. the full White condo employees. They have been long past. them all. He might by no means see them back. It used to be greater than he may well undergo, yet common Briggs didn’t supply him time to mourn. “Sir, i do know it’s much to deal with,” the four-star acknowledged, empathy in his voice. “But there’s extra i have to let you know. ” “Lieutenant, might you provide me a few air again the following? ” Oaks requested the lead pilot. He took a number of deep breaths and attempted to metal himself for what extra was once coming. “Continue, General,” he acknowledged after a number of moments. “I’m listening. ” Or attempting to, he acknowledged to himself. “Sir, as soon as you’re on board Air strength One, we’ll feed you reside satellite tv for pc photographs of every of the affected towns, starting with l. a.. I’ll positioned my specialists on a videoconference to stroll you thru the specifics and resolution each query you may have. once you board, you’re going to be met by way of the executive U. S. district pass judgement on out of Jacksonville. I don’t have her identify in entrance of me, yet you’ll have a whole file on her in a couple of minutes. she's going to administer the oath of workplace. we want a commander in leader instantly, sir. We’re going to warfare. ” “With whom, common? ” Oaks demanded. “Who’s in the back of all this? ” “I don’t be aware of, sir,” Briggs conceded. “Not but. yet i'll quickly. And while I do, I’ll offer you a package deal of attainable reaction thoughts. For now, even though, that’s getting sooner than ourselves. First issues first. I’m so sorry to need to say this, yet as top as we will inform for the time being, you could have almost no cupboard to talk of, sir, and lots of the nationwide safeguard Council is lifeless in addition. ” Oaks gasped. It wasn’t attainable. “You’re totally definite, basic? ” he requested. “Couldn’t any of them have survived? ” “No, sir, I’m afraid not,” Briggs acknowledged. “All yet individuals of the cupboard have been in D.