President Kenneth Phoenix entered the White House Situation Room at a fast walk, waving the others in the room to their seats. His face was gray and haggard, and he had a day’s growth of beard, the result of staying awake and at his desk awaiting news of his vice president, chief adviser, and friend. “Someone talk to me,” he ordered.
“The Russians have launched what are believed to be five Elektron spaceplanes into orbit,” National Security Adviser William Glenbrook said. In the Situation Room with him was Secretary of State James Morrison, Secretary of Defense Frederick Hayes, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Timothy Spelling, and director of the Central Intelligence Agency Thomas Torrey, plus some assistants standing by near telephones. The large monitor at the front of the room was split into several screens, with one showing the image of the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Admiral Joseph Eberhart, and commander of the U.S. Space Command, Air Force General George Sandstein, joining the meeting via video teleconference. “They have also launched fighter jets believed to be carrying antisatellite missiles, similar to the one that hit the vice president’s spaceplane.”
“After Gryzlov’s threat, we’d have to assume they’re placing their nuclear forces on a greater readiness level as we speak,” Hayes added. “Maybe even greater than ours.”
The president was silent for several long moments, looking into the faces of his advisers. Finally: “I want to talk directly with General Raydon,” he said.
A few moments later, after the secure video teleconference link was established: “General Raydon here, Mr. President.”
“First of all: status of the vice president and the spaceplane crew.”
“We were working to get inside the passenger module, but I canceled the spacewalks when those Elektrons launched,” Kai replied. “Still no response from any of them.”
“How much oxygen do they have?”
“Several more hours if their space suits or the spaceplane’s environmental systems weren’t damaged. We’ve examined the readouts on their suits and we think they are still receiving oxygen from the ship and not just from their own suits. If that turns out not to be the case, they haven’t much longer.”
The president nodded grimly. “Here’s the situation, General: Gennadiy Gryzlov says flat out he wants to shoot down Silver Tower,” he said. “He told me about the kill box and how he’s going to position those spaceplanes in the same area as the antisatellite weapons around Moscow and St. Petersburg. My question is: Can you survive an attack on the space station?”
“Yes, sir, we can,” Kai said immediately, “but not for long. We have sixteen engagements of antisatellite weapons and approximately thirty engagements with the Hydra COIL laser. We also have sixteen engagements on our weapon garages in orbit, but the odds are very long that they’ll be in a position to defend station. After those are expended, we’d have to rely on refueling and rearming.”
“And then Gryzlov could take potshots at our resupply spaceplanes and commercial cargo spacecraft,” the president pointed out.
“Which is why I recommend we attack any antisatellite sites we can with our Mjollnir missiles,” Kai said. “Our nine remaining weapon garages are within range of an ASAT site every twenty to thirty minutes. We have thirteen land-attack engagements with the orbiting weapon garages, plus fifteen from the stored-weapon garages on station. That would put a pretty big dent in Gryzlov’s antisatellite forces.”
“Gryzlov has threatened nuclear war if we attack any of his bases in Russia.”
Kai’s expression turned first surprised, then serious, and finally angry. “Mr. President, the question is considerably above my pay grade,” he said, “but if anyone threatens the United States with nuclear war, I say we work to hand him his head on a platter.”
The president looked at the expressions of his advisers once more—they ranged from outright fear, to determination, to blankness and bewilderment. He had the distinct impression that all of them were glad they didn’t have to make the decision. “Secretary Hayes,” the president said moments later, “put us at DEFCON Two.”
“Yes, sir,” the secretary of defense responded, reaching for the phone.
“General Raydon, I am authorizing you to attack and destroy any Russian antisatellite installations that present a risk to Armstrong Space Station,” the president said grimly. “You will also use any weapons available to defend station from attack. Keep us advised.”
ABOARD ARMSTRONG SPACE STATION
THAT SAME TIME
“Yes, sir,” Kai replied. On the stationwide intercom he said, “All personnel, this is the director, we have been authorized by the president of the United States to attack any Russian bases that are a threat to us, and to use all weapons at our disposal to defend station. That is exactly what I intend to do. I want Casey Huggins on oxygen and into an ACES, and I want Life Support to teach her how to use a lifeboat.”