Extinction Machine

Chapter Ninety-one

The Oval Office, the White House

Sunday, October 20, 5:19 p.m.

Acting president William Collins slammed the door of the Oval Office and wheeled around to glare at Mark Eppenfeld, the attorney general.

“Where do we stand with Ledger and the DMS?”

Eppenfeld stared at him, appalled. “Mr. President … surely this matter can wait until a more appropriate time. The DMS is clearly under attack. America itself appears to be under attack. Between Dugway, the cyber-terrorism, and this terrible, terrible incident in Baltimore…”

“That’s why we need to jump on it. How much more proof do we need that Ledger has gone rogue and is waging a terror campaign against this nation? As soon as we try to execute a warrant to gain access to his office the whole place blows up. Do you want to stand there and tell me that he didn’t rig it to blow if somebody started looking too close?”

“That’s supposition, Mr. President, and I don’t think it’s the next natural link in the chain of logic.”

“And I’m saying it is,” replied the president very sternly. “How many times do I have to say that Ledger is an enemy of the state?”

“Mr. President, the money and stock certificates found at Captain Ledger’s apartment are clean. No fingerprints.”

“So?”

“Does something need to have leaves and sap before we call it a plant?”

The president sneered at him. “Don’t try to get cute, Mark. And let me caution you … some people might find your constant defense of a known terrorist like Joe Ledger to be a matter of some concern.”

Eppenfeld straightened. “Mr. President … are you threatening me? May I remind you that until you relieve me of this office or I choose to resign, I am the attorney general of the United States. Threats made against me are—”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Mark, get off your high horse,” Collins said quickly. “I’m trying to help you make the right choice here.”

Eppenfeld’s face was a stone. “And what, sir, is the right choice in this matter?”

“The right choice is to prevent this thing from escalating. As long as Joe Ledger—or anyone working with him—has access to MindReader then he will continue to pose a grave threat to national security.”

“I already informed you, Mr. President, that we do not have just cause to confiscate that computer system as it is the personal property of Mr. Church. As his body has not been identified we cannot confirm that he is among the victims of the explosion, and therefore his property rights are in force.”

“No, Mark, you misunderstand me … I’m not saying we should go after the computer. If we can’t touch it, then nobody should be able to touch it. I’m saying that we need to shut the Department of Military Sciences down. Shut it all down, and shut it down right now.” He leaned forward and smiled, then opened a blue folder on his desk. Inside was a document written on official stationery. “Every field office is on property owned outright or leased by the United States. In the interests of national security I am issuing an executive order for that purpose, effective immediately.”

He handed the document to Eppenfeld, who read it through. The AG’s shoulders slowly sagged.

“The DMS is finished, Mark,” said the president. “Done.”