Mark Spaid - Falcon Down

“I don’t know,” Louise Chen said sheepishly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we need to act now so the world sees we have leadership in place,” Perry said. There were exchanged looks and a few eyebrows were raised.

“The Twenty-Fifth Amendment?” Haakon Meisner asked. Any legal question needed the attention of the attorney general. He wasn’t a legal scholar nor a Supreme Court Justice but he was the best available source and his opinion was important.

“Yes,” Valerie answered.

“But we don’t know the fate of the President,” Haakon reminded everyone.

“That is precisely the problem,” Defense Secretary Rojas pointed out.

“I’m not assuming the worst but we have to have someone in place making decisions of national security,” Valerie said.

“Military decisions?” Homeland Security Director Marcus Washington asked.

“Yes, if the need arises.”

“We’re not there yet,” Marty Ingersoll said.

“No and hopefully we won’t get there but what if Kapustin Yar starts launching missiles at us? Then what?” Valerie looked around the table and there was silence as looks were exchanged. “Well, let’s have it. Do you want us to just sit here while nuclear missiles are falling on our major cities including this one?”

“No, but once we start retaliating with missiles, there’s no turning back and it’s the… end, Madam Speaker,” Susan Rojas said.

“Yes, Madam Secretary, I’m aware of the finality of nuclear war,” Valerie replied and turned with a grunt.

“I think Valerie is right, we have to be prepared and having someone in charge sends a clear message to the Russians to take things slow,” CIA Director Fitzgerald stated.

“The problem being, the Russian government is not in charge. A band of suicidal crazies have their finger on the button,” Louise Chen pointed out.

“All the more reason for there to be someone in command,” Valerie said and it was hard to argue with her logic.

“You think this is the best course of action?” Marty asked.

“I do,” she said and glanced at Perry who nodded agreement.

“Look, folks, this action is not something anyone would relish. No matter what happens Valerie will be a pariah even in her own party but we have little choice,” Perry added. There were nods all around.

“I know the reservations that some of you have in this room right now. It’s a bold step and some will say it’s reckless but I believe it’s necessary. I would ask, however, that despite any misgivings that the vote should de unanimous. We can’t show any hesitation to our allies and adversaries nor to the American people,” Valerie stated clearly.

“I don’t like it and I wish you felt otherwise Madam Speaker but I will vote yes. We need to show a solid front,” Louise Chen said

“I second what Louise said,” Marcus Washington added.

“I understand that some of you and hopefully all of you have trepidations about a takeover and this is a takeover whether we want to call it that or not. The amendment was designed for dire circumstances, when there was no one in charge. I hope you believe me that I don’t like this either but I believe it is necessary,” No one spoke but there were many head nods of agreement. After a few seconds Valerie turned to Marty. The Secretary of State was the de facto leader of the cabinet in the absence of the President and Vice-President. He drew a deep breath and stood up.

“As the leader of this band of merry folks that are about to tread upon holy ground, I will ask for a motion to place the Speaker of the House, Valerie Jensen, in place as the acting President.” There was another period of silence as no one rushed to be the one that history would record as the motion maker that started the coup; and make no mistake about it… Constitutional or not, it was a legalized coup de tat. Susan Rojas rose to her feet.

“Mr. Secretary, I move that we invoke the powers of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and approve Speaker of the House Valerie Jensen as acting President of the United States until the return of President Ellen Lexington.” With the motion made there was no stopping now so, up stood Rita Fitzgerald.

“I second the motion,” Rita said then sat down.

“All in favor,” Marty said. There were loud and clear ayes all around. “The motion carries and I now yield control to Acting President Jensen.” He sat down and Valerie stood up.

“Thank you… I think. My goal is to wait until the President is back here in Washington then I’ll resign my seat in the House, pack up and go back to Michigan. But if there’s something that needs doing, I’ll do it and I’ll take full responsibility. None of you should be tarred by my brush.”

“That’s nice of you to say Madam Acting President but we’re all done for. All of our resignations will follow a few each month,” Louise Chen remarked.

“I would hope not,” Valerie said.

“It is the nature of the beast Madam Acting President,” Marty posed.

“Perhaps but on another note. Madam Acting President is getting old very fast. In public I’ll maintain the title but in here I’ll ask that you call me Valerie.”

“Very well,” Marty said. “So, Valerie, you need to make a statement acknowledging what we did here today.”

“You’re right. Wendy, set up a briefing for the press in half an hour.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“We need to do one more thing,” Marty said and they looked at him and wondered what… then it dawned on some of them.

“A designated Survivor,” Susan said.

“That’s right,” Marty said. “Someone has to be ready in case DC gets nuked.”

“Way to be optimistic, Marty,” Louise Chen said.

“Just being realistic. Right now, we’re in the crosshairs of a missile, probably two or three at Kapustin Yar.”

“I have the perfect candidate,” Valerie said.

“Who?” Haakon asked.

‘The rightful heir to the throne… Jonathan Red Cloud.” There was a pause.

“I agree,” Marty said then everyone nodded and agreed with Attorney General Meisner’s choice.

“We need a secure location,” Valerie posed.

“There’s a bunkered location about twelve blocks away. He could run things from underground if necessary,” Rita Fitzgerald said.

“Good, get him there right away,” Valerie said.

“Do I get a vote in this?’ Jonathan asked.

“No,” Valerie said and Jonathan nodded reluctantly.

“Vladimir, what’re you doing?” Olga Berelenov asked as her husband paced the kitchen.

“I should be in Moscow under protection. Deniken suggested I do that in case the unthinkable happened but I wouldn’t listen to him.”

“Stop blaming yourself, what can happen here?”

“You’re joking I hope, Olga. We’re here in the country cut off from the world with two men guarding us.”

“Do you think there is anyone who would do us harm?”

“Not us, me.”

“Who?”

“Kulagin and his group of nutcases. Deniken is already a prisoner and they can’t risk me getting to Moscow. They’ll be here alright, it’s just a matter of time.” The Berelenovs had a country villa as a getaway from the city. He was a lawyer and she a zoologist from the University of Moscow. They spent time over the years in the villa as a retreat from the insanity that is Moscow.

“I hear something, Vladimir,” and it was gunshots from outside. Instinct was to run but there was nowhere to go so they stood holding one another in the kitchen when the back door flew open and four men came inside holding guns on them. Two disappeared to other parts of the house as two remained and kept Vladimir and Olga at bay with revolvers.