Drone Games (25 page)

“Sir, it has to be done,” Bridge gently prodded, careful in his tone so as not to appear to be ordering the president, although that’s exactly what he was doing.

“Tell me again . . . are there no alternatives?”

Slavin quietly handed Bridge a folder entitled:
National Security Plan for Air Traffic Shutdown
. It had been prepared for this precise situation.

“Mr. President, with all due respect, two planes and a total of 260 people have been lost. We are, for all intents and purposes, under siege. Both flights appear to have been deliberately targeted with warnings announced beforehand. We were powerless to stop them. However insidious, someone, somehow, has devised a way to carry or plant explosive devices on commercial aircraft and presumably detonate them at a time of their choosing. It is unbelievable. And if such devices have somehow managed to elude our detection capabilities, for all we know there could be tens or even hundreds poised for similar detonation. It is my duty to now admit the possibility that the prior London aircraft bombing attempts and even the mysterious downing of TWA Flight 800 may have shared circumstances. That plane, in particular, could very well have been the first test. We may be facing a perfected tactic so revolutionary that none of our security systems can pick it up. Donaldson is in his grave, but I believe he was dead right.”

Bridge had wanted to get that out for years. He never had a good enough foundation. Commander William S. Donaldson III was a United States Navy pilot and Vietnam War veteran with more than twenty-four years of experience in nearly all phases of naval aviation. He challenged the US government’s conclusions on what caused Flight 800 to crash into the Atlantic Ocean on July 17, 1996. The Boeing 747-100 literally exploded in midair shortly after takeoff from JFK International Airport, killing everyone on board. Hundreds of witnesses reported evidence of offensive targeting that originated from either the ground or the water. There was also an indisputable presence of the explosive compound PETN around a gaping hole in the plane’s fuselage.

“It’s got to be attached to a passenger who is somehow getting on board. What if we simply disallowed all carry-on luggage or hand searched each and every pers—”

“Mr. President,” Bridge interrupted. “You once told me that I could speak my mind with you as long as it was respectful and from my heart. I hold you to your word. You’re micromanaging. There are no alternatives. You have the authority and more than enough evidence. Shut it down.”

The president bristled at the public rebuke, but he knew that Bridge was right. He’d been in office over three years. His party had held Congressional majorities for six years. His record on fighting terror was solid; his foreign policy was both prudent and effective, and his domestic agenda was on the rise. The cyclical economy had shed all signs of recession and was showing steady growth. The decision he faced was akin to disciplining a child with a dangerous weapon. Not to mention that this child could vote.

“How long was air traffic stopped after 9/11?”

“Three days,” Slavin spoke up.

The president digested that.

“Three days, and the economy went into recession for two years. What’s first?”

“A threat announcement,” Bridge replied. “There are two choices. Since we’ve abandoned the color-coded severity levels and created the National Terrorism Advisory System, we must issue either an elevated or imminent alert. Unfortunately, we’re trapped either way, sir. Elevated suggests we may or may not be attacked. Imminent implies that real and credible evidence exists that an attack is forthcoming. With neither being true, we must assume the worst case. The question is for how long.”

“Thank you, Thomas. Andrew, have Mr. Dorn join us,” the president requested. He turned to his Secretary of Transportation. “What can we expect and when? I want to know the immediate ramifications for the airlines and our citizens.”

A short Native American with no formal education, Norman Minka’s tribal mediation skills had helped avoid a nationwide Teamster’s strike last year. His face carried a permanent grimace forged by the fierce winds in Chignik Bay in Alaska. When he spoke, passion often trumped grammar. He and the president regularly hunted together, and he had already alerted his state’s network of bush pilots. An airline shutdown would strand their customers on remote fly-ins.

Minka opened an inch-thick folder. “Well, right now there are 147 domestic air operator certificates in use and 170 foreign carriers allowed to fly in the United States. This includes commercial passenger and cargo. There are 7,000 carriers for hire and 223,000 general aviation planes operating at 19,500 airports. A nationwide ground stop would halt 24,000 departures and 1.7 million enplaned passengers per day. The airlines employ 486,000 full-time and 98,000 parttime people. At this time, there’s no way to know or predict how many would be laid off. That would be based on the length of the stoppage and each airline’s cash position. About 49,000 maintenance personnel might still be able to perform their jobs, but 71,000 pilots and copilots won’t. Stopping the airline business sector is a momentous undertaking in itself, but the short- and long-term ramifications to down range sectors dependent on flying go on and on. At ground level, major cities will face massive gridlock. Rental car stations, subways, bus lines, railways, and even taxis will become lifelines. We must deal with the ten largest first: New York, LA, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Washington, and Baltimore. People need to get back to their homes. We have two things on our side: it’s early in the day, and there are no active threats. Carriers should be able to bring down flights in an orderly manner. Some will be near enough to destinations, but many won’t. So we’re back to severe inconvenience.”

“International flights en route over the Pacific and Atlantic will be turned back unless they’ve passed midpoints or are low on fuel,” Slavin added. “Our neighbors will cooperate with whatever we decide.”

Minka continued. “That covers the first few hours. After one day, business sectors must brace for the worst. Cargo and intermediary suppliers who don’t or can’t keep inventory and depend on timely imports will be hurt. The trucking and rail industries will be overwhelmed with the increased volume. I won’t get into minutia here, but please know that the financial consequences of stopping operations for the airlines alone are simply devastating. I have preliminary figures on the economic imp—”

“Thank you, Norman. Not now.”

“Mr. President,” Bard spoke up. “Sir, there is no such thing as an orderly shutdown. You heard the airline CEOs admit that their companies would be thrown into immediate and utter chaos.”

“Yes, and they also admitted that they understood the reasoning and would support the decision. They also have no choice.”

“Still, I’d like to suggest that we all take a step back for a moment and consider the catastrophic burden that we are intending to place on this country and its economy should you take this course of action. Might we at least consider announcing a delayed or phased approach, say forty-eight hours? Certainly that would give people time to prepare for and even avoid those inconveniences that Norman outlined. Perhaps twenty-four hours, or even twelve or eight? I don’t believe that any of us in this room fully appreciate the gravity here. This isn’t some restaurant or shopping mall down the block that we’re intending to shutter, this is an entire economic sector—one that reaches so deeply into a myriad of others that the full weight of the consequences cannot possibly be known.”

The room fell silent. The president’s eyes observed every face. He wanted reaction. Eye contact, a twitch, a nod, or even a head shake—something that would indicate a position, pro or con. There was none.

“Thomas, do we need input from Commerce, Health and Human Services, or Defense?”

“No, sir,” Bridge answered quickly. “I honestly don’t know what value they could add to the up-front decision. They’d be more concerned after. This is my recommendation and mine alone.”

“Mr. Riley, do you agree with my Chief of Staff?”

“Mr. Bard has some valid points.”

“But do you think he’s right? Do you think we should wait?”

Riley thought for a few seconds.
Watch your language
,
Jack
. “May I clarify those . . . inconveniences?”

The president nodded approval.

Riley stood. “Mr. Bard, you have no idea how much I hate waiting in lines. And you’re absolutely right. This country would be turned upside-down in utter chaos for the foreseeable future, especially if the president pulls a hard lever today. Passengers who are stranded in some strange city or airport would be furious about having to find another way home to friends and family. Or worse, spending a night in some flophouse with six other people. I mean, I’m pretty resourceful, and I know I’d be upset. When even one airline stumbles, people suffer. Let’s face it—travel inconvenience is a major hassle. Now think about airline layoffs, ruined vacations, deferred business meetings, or even cancelling that special family reunion. Who knows what’ll happen to all that luggage? But in my opinion, Mr. Bard, before you curl up for the night on some uncomfortable airport bench and curse at the inconvenience, ask yourself this question: who’s more inconvenienced? You, watching a line of stranded people inch forward to order a cold chili dog for dinner in some airport food court, or O’Hare’s assistant tower chief watching a line of people inch forward at the wake of his wife and granddaughter, who died today on Flight 605? Mr. President, I wouldn’t give these terrorist bomber cowards a second to rest or an ounce more satisfaction. No more flights; no more body counts. Not on our watch.”

Riley sat down. His point hung in the air like a clarion call bellowed by Winston Churchill.

The president lowered his head and smiled briefly. He was first and foremost a naval officer who took deep pride in making decisions based on principle and integrity. Nothing riled him more than bending with the winds of election-year politics, which was Bard’s real motive. He had simply drifted too far into overprotective waters. This was a textbook example of misguided loyalty.

Jeffrey Dorn, the White House press secretary, entered the room. “Sir?”

“I’ll speak to the nation,” the president announced, glancing at his watch, “in fifteen minutes. Andrew, please handle the courtesy calls with Norman’s staff. Keep things brief. Domestic airlines first, then foreign. Don’t forget Senate and House leaders.” He took a deep breath and turned to Bridge. “Are we prepared to issue a nationwide terror alert?”

“Yes,” Bridge confirmed. “Down to the local levels. They know something’s coming, but not the specifics.”

The president kept his eyes on Bridge and pointed at Riley. “I want him in charge.”

Riley placed his hand on his chest. “Sir, with all due respect, I’m not . . . I don’t work for Justice. This is the FBI’s juris—”

“I’m not going to get into that,” the president said firmly. “I don’t care about jurisdiction. I’ve already spoken with the Attorney General. He understands my reasoning and has pledged his full support. You’re it, son.”

“He accepts, Mr. President,” Bridge spoke up. “I’ll inform Director Colmes.”

The president rose from his chair and gave Riley a direct look. “For America’s sake, find out how they’re doing it.” He turned to Minka. “Shut it down. Everything.”

Minka sat stone-faced. Then he turned and nodded at Slavin.

All eyes in the room watched as she calmly lifted her phone and dialed the number for Vint Hill. A team of senior air traffic managers was already alerted and on standby. From there, emergency advisories would be issued to all regional centers, who in turn would relay the order to local hubs. In less than two minutes, all air and conveyance companies and carriers, airport towers, traffic control centers, and federal transportation facilities across the country would receive the message. In two more minutes, it would be global.

All scheduled departures within or bound for the United States on all flight display boards in all airports across the world would show the word
cancelled
. All US airborne flights were to find the nearest emergency landing field large enough to accommodate the weight of their aircraft and land immediately. Once on the ground, passengers and flight crews were to exit as quickly and as safely as possible. All aircraft were to be quarantined, searched, and cleared. No exceptions. No aircraft would be allowed to fly. Medical air transport requests would have to show life-threatening urgency and be cleared by the FAA’s National Operations Manager. A separate call went out to all airfreight carriers.

—

White House Press Room

Washington, DC

SECRETARY BRIDGE strode onto the stage, followed by a mix of newly briefed Cabinet staff and members. At that instant, the networks interrupted their regularly scheduled programs with this breaking news coverage.

President Warren appeared, and the room instantly fell silent.

He approached the podium, pausing to inhale deeply.

“As you know, there has been a second airline tragedy southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. At this time, we are unable to positively confirm whether it or the Milwaukee incidents were caused by mechanical failure, operator, or other human error or via acts of domestic terrorism. In order to take every possible protective measure to safeguard the citizens of the United States, and until we can ascertain cause, I have ordered that an imminent terror alert be issued per the National Terrorism Advisory System. That was initiated just moments ago.”

The room erupted in camera clicks and shouts.

“Please, I’m sorry, but I’m not going to answer any questions. Mr. Dorn will hold a follow-up briefing within the hour.” The room quieted. The president paused again. “Coincident with that order and in keeping with the spirit and severity of that alert, effective immediately, all motorized, floating, or gliding domestic and international passenger, commercial, cargo, recreational, or other airborne craft inside the borders of the United States will be grounded. Those aircraft approaching our borders will be turned back, if possible, or rerouted to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. The airspace over the United States will be under a complete no-fly zone indefinitely. Make no mistake—there will be extreme delays in general transportation across the country as these actions are set in motion. Please bear with us. I ask for your patience, your cooperation, and your prayers in seeing these events to a rapid and safe conclusion. We will work tirelessly to bring this nation and its air transportation and subsidiary industries back to a level of confidence and security for all. The no-fly zone does not apply to law enforcement. It will be enforced by the military. Thank you.”