Mark Spaid - Falcon Down

“But it also covers incapacity by the President,” Haakon added.

“Yes, but she isn’t incapacitated. She’s just held under duress.”

“But she can’t govern and we don’t know how long she’ll be held,” Marcus Washington said.

“The amendment is a suicide pact for anyone who uses it. If I take over no matter the reason or circumstances, I’ll be viewed as a usurper by the American people and they’d be right. No, I’m not going to steal the Presidency while Ellen Lexington is being held at gunpoint in some God forsaken part of the world.”

“But, Madam Speaker…” Haakon started.

“No, we’ll meet continually and take whatever action we feel is necessary but Ellen is still the President.” Valerie said it with finality and there was no more discussion about her taking over.”

“Valerie, you need to speak to the country,” Marty said.

“Tentatively we set up a nine o’clock slot for Perry. The networks are ready and it might look best if it comes from the Oval Office,” Marty suggested.

“No, I’ll do it from the press room.” People looked at one another but nothing was said. “Good, I’m glad you agree.”

“We had the president’s speech writer jot down a few ideas,” Marty said.

“No, I’ll do it myself. Now, ladies and gentlemen I’m going to try and make myself presentable for the briefing.” They all stood as Valerie got up and left the room.

“Good evening, my fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the terrible events of today. Rumors are running wild, largely due to the fact that we don’t have much concrete evidence as to what happened. I can tell you what I know from being there. This afternoon after the meeting between President Lexington and President Deniken there was a bus tour of the Crimean Bridge that links The Crimea to Russia. After crossing the bridge into Russia, the bus was attacked. Heavily armed men boarded the bus and shots were fired. Then apparently, and our information is sketchy and anecdotal at best, there was a struggle on the bus. It is possible that Russian and American security agents took back control of the bus then drove away rapidly knocking two cars off the road that had held some of the men who stopped the bus. Later, these men commandeered other cars and chased after the bus. The two vehicles disappeared and we don’t know where they went. Henry York and I made it out of Kerch and got back to Washington. We are putting every law enforcement agency that we have and the armed forces of the United States in action to get the President back safely. That’s all I know and now I’ll take questions.

“Madam Speaker, are you the acting President?”

“No.”

“Why not, the 25 thAmendment is there for something like this.”

“There has never been anything like this, Mr. Williams,” Valerie said then pointed to another reporter.

“Was the President hit by any of the shots?”

“Unable to tell but I doubt it.”

“Why?”

“It seems to those who are best able to discern the motives of this group that they would rather have both Presidents as hostages.”

“Hostages for what?”

“That we don’t know but I’m sure we’ll soon find out.”

“What military action has been taken to get the President back?”

“I can’t say, Dawn, surely you know that.”

“What has the Russian government said about this?”

“They’ve sent coded messages claiming they were not involved.”

“Do you believe them?”

“I do, there’s no reason for them to precipitate a crisis when tensions are starting to relax between us.”

“We’ve heard rumors of a carload of our secret service agents being killed.”

“I don’t know the details but I’ve heard the same thing.”

“When will we know more details?”

“When we have them. I’m going to keep the populace informed when we have something.”

“Have we raised our alert status?”

“I can’t comment on that either.”

“Is this all we can expect from you, just brief snippets with no explanation?”

“Until we know something yes, I can’t tell you what I don’t know, Stan.”

“Where are the First Gentleman and his children?”

“That is not for me to disseminate.”

“When will we have another briefing?”

“Let’s see,” Valerie said glancing at the clock. “How about midnight? You do stay up that late don’t you Stan.” There was a smattering of faint laughter.

“I will today, Madam Speaker.”

“Good, I look forward to seeing you again,” Valerie said and abruptly left the stage and disappeared.

“You did fine, Madam Speaker,” Perry said and the two walked down the hall, went into a room and closed the door.

“Dad, what’s going to happen to Mom,” Shelly asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Can’t the army go in there and get her out?” Brian asked.

“It’s more complicated than that,” Don said. They were upstairs in the living quarters of the first family. Brian and Shelly were on a couch facing Don who sat in a chair staring blankly at the television news station that was broadcasting non-stop about the kidnapping.

“Why is any answer to any question about anything is, it’s complicated?” Brian asked.

“Because it is. Your mother and her party are in a foreign land and not one that is very warm to us right now. The Russian government doesn’t want anything to happen to your mother or President Deniken or any of the people being held but they also aren’t receptive to outside interference from the U.S.”

“I’m scared, Dad,” Shelly said as she sat on the arm of his chair. She put her head on his shoulder and he hugged her. Brian sat watching then his eyes went red and he began to tremble.

“I miss Mom,” Brian said and sat on the other arm. Don hugged him too as they all three hoped for the best but feared the worst.

“What do we do, Perry?” Valerie asked as they both sat at a table. They weren’t ducking the cabinet but they needed a few minutes to plan their strategy.

“We’re in uncharted waters to be sure. Nothing like this has ever happened. Whatever happens and what we do about it will be called into scrutiny.”

“Should I invoke the 25 thAmendment and take over?”

“You can’t win, you’re in quicksand the moment you start. If she shows up safely in two days, you’ll be the scourge of the Earth.”

“I know but what if that lunatic at Kapustin Yar launches twenty missiles? These are hydrogen warheads aimed at New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angles, and wherever else they have targeted. Just twenty hydrogen bombs and this country is paralyzed. We each have about seven thousand but twenty could do the trick.”

“Oh, you’re right. No electricity, phones, emergency services would be non-existent. Things would grind to a halt.”

“And what do we do? Do we launch twenty missiles of our own at St. Petersburg, Moscow, their naval bases etc.?”

“Then they launch a full-scale retaliation and we do the same. The Earth as we know it would disappear,” Perry said.

“That’s why I think I should take over. We have to be in contact with NORAD, Alaskan Air Command, Pearl Harbor, Wiesbaden, the whole damn works.” Perry nodded understanding. “I know I resisted it at first but the more I think about it, we need someone in charge.”

“We need to discuss this with the cabinet.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll have to approve any transfer of power.”

“They do?”

“Of course, tell me you knew that,” Perry said.

“I guess I didn’t until now.”

“Let’s pretend that you knew all along.”