The Last Election (30 page)

“See this Daniel,” Ixchel said as she pointed a pen at the last symbol, “the third and fourth symbols are actually one symbol. The bottom part is the Earth, and the top part…”

“Is a mushroom cloud,” said Daniel. He stared at the screen. “I see it.”

“Daniel, every time I looked at the symbols on the tablet I had nightmares. Horrible nightmares! And Bonsam was always there. I even had nightmares when I was awake. Remember when I saw the assassination! Remember when I saw the Marriott explosion?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“And I never told you this, but I had a nightmare when I was studying the sky-fire symbol. And Bonsam was in it. I passed out in the UVA lab and didn’t wake up until hours later.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“The nightmares were terrifying. I began seeing visions and hearing voices in my head. I kept seeing bright flashes of light and feeling strong blasts of wind. I thought I was losing my mind, Daniel.”

“Ixchel, do you really believe that the final symbol represents some kind of all out nuclear war?”

She paused for a moment. “Yes, I can feel it, Daniel. I’m certain it will take place and it’s going to happen soon, unless we can find a way to stop it. To stop Bonsam.”

Daniel thought for a moment. “We need to tell somebody about this.”

“But who? Who is going to believe us?”

“President Clark,” said Daniel. “If Bonsam needs to be stopped, he’s our only hope.”

Chapter 73

“Sir, I can’t explain it,” said General Miguel Arroyo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The system has locked us out. We can’t shut it down and we can’t override it. The football is still active!”

“How can that be?” shouted Holden. He could not comprehend that the president's Emergency Satchel was not only missing but also still capable of authorizing a nuclear attack.

Everyone who had gathered around the conference table in the Situation Room was anxiously awaiting the chairman’s reply. “Last night, shortly after President Bonsam broke out of Bethesda, STRATCOM was hit by an enormous cyber attack. A tidal wave of powerful viruses has managed to infiltrate our most secure military systems.”

Clark looked at Martineau. “My God!” she whispered.

“Even if we are locked out, how is it possible for Bonsam to start shooting off nukes? Even if he has the codes that could authorize an attack, the attack order would still need to be confirmed by the Secretary of Defense,” said Holden.

“Sir, we must assume that if President Bonsam has the ability to lock us out of the emergency launch system, he has the ability to override the SECDEF’s confirmation,” General Arroyo replied.

Holden paused for a moment. “Just how extensive is this cyber attack?”
  

“The viruses are spreading throughout the Combatant Commands at lightning speed. CENTCOM reported that communication systems throughout Afghanistan are beginning to crash, putting the troops there in mortal danger. PACOM reported that they have lost contact with over half of the
Ohio
class subs in the Pacific, meaning that there are about a hundred Trident nuclear missiles out there that we can’t find. This is just the tip of the iceberg, sir.”

Before Holden could respond, the Deputy Administrator of NASA leaned over the table and announced, “General, Mission Control Houston is reporting that our space communication systems are failing. We have lost all contact with the International Space Station. Russia is reporting that
Roscosmos
is experiencing the same problem.”

Even before the murmuring following NASA’s announcement had died down, the Deputy of Homeland Security yelled to the chairman, “General Arroyo, the viruses have spread to networks beyond the military networks. The Treasury Department is reporting breaches of security in the Federal Reserve. We could be looking at an economic meltdown if this gets out and there is a run on the banks.”

The tension in the room continued to rise.
 
The Under Secretary of the Commerce Department elbowed her way to the table and announced, “General, sir, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is reporting disastrous malfunctions within its science satellite services. We can no longer monitor any oceanic or atmospheric weather conditions. Commercial shipping vessels worldwide are in grave danger.”
 
 

The noise level throughout the Situation Room climbed as the country’s top leaders redoubled their efforts to keep up with the disastrous intelligence information that kept pouring in. Holden pulled the chairman away from the conference table to speak in private. Martineau motioned to Clark to come close, “It is a miracle that Holden has been able to keep a lid on the news of Bonsam’s escape and the events happening here. If the public were to find out, there would be a worldwide panic.”

“He won’t be able to contain it much longer,” Clark replied. “Too many things are going wrong, and most of the people in this situation room are part of the problem. Holden needs their help, but they’re only making things worse.”

“I’m afraid you’re right, Sam.”

Clark paused for a minute and said, “Let’s get out of this goat rope for a few minutes so we can hear ourselves think.”

Clay looked out the window as his driver headed toward the White House. He was still astounded by Clark’s news that Bonsam had shot his way out of Bethesda and disappeared without a trace. “And to think that I once admired the man,” he said aloud.

“You say something to me, sir?” asked the driver.

“Uh, sorry. No. I was just talking to myself.”

“Well, as long as you don’t start answering yourself, you’ll be fine,” said the driver. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Clay smiled. “Thanks.” He turned back to the window, and then something strange caught his eye. As they passed the White House visitors’ entrance he saw a group of National Park Service rangers standing around a young couple. The woman was obviously upset about something and she waved her hands around forcefully as she spoke to the rangers who had encircled her.

Clay tapped on the back of the driver’s seat and said, “Pull over, let me out here.”

“Here?” replied the driver.

“Yes, hurry.” Once the vehicle stopped Clay jumped out and crossed the street, and then made his way to the visitors’ entrance.

“He must have started answering himself,” the driver said aloud. “Oh God, now I’m doing it,” he said as he drove away.

As Clay reached the crowd he heard the woman exclaim, “You don’t understand. I have got to see the president!”

A ranger replied, “President Bonsam is resting comfortably and spending time with his family.”

“Not President Bonsam,” yelled Daniel, “President Clark!”

“Actually, he’s not the president yet,” the ranger explained. “You see, after an election the winner becomes…”

“I know! Whatever! I have to see President Clark, now!” shouted Ixchel.

Clay stepped forward and said, “What seems to be the problem here?”

Both Ixchel and the ranger turned to Clay and at the exact same time said, “Who are you?”

“I am a member of Clark’s staff. Maybe I can help.”

Ixchel said, “Give me a break” at the same time that the ranger said, “Sure you are.”

Clay took out his White House badge and held it in front of the ranger’s face, and the ranger and his cohorts snapped to attention. The ranger said, “By all means, sir. Please feel free to assist this young lady.”

The rangers quickly moved back to their positions. Clay looked at Ixchel and Daniel and said, “So tell me, why is it so important for you to see President-elect Clark?”

Clark stared at Ixchel. He was flabbergasted by what he had just heard. “The symbols on an ancient Maya tablet predict that doomsday will come at the hands of Emmanuel Bonsam, in the form of a nuclear holocaust?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but the sky-fire and temple-fire prophecies have come true. It was Bonsam who had both Kirk’s plane and the Marriott tower blown up,” Ixchel said, “and I have seen visions of Bonsam in the flames of these acts of destruction.”

“Visions?” said Clark. “I’m supposed to believe this because you are having visions?”

“Wait a minute, Sam,” said Martineau. “Now, I’m not a big believer in this kind of stuff either, but look at what is happening.” She got up and paced around the room. “Bonsam has stolen the nuclear football and it can’t be shut off. We are under a cyber attack of epic proportions and we don’t know who is responsible.”

She started speaking excitedly, “Remember when Special Agent Gibson said that the FBI had discovered bits of information on Delgado’s computer about Maya artifacts? And remember the last time we saw Bonsam. Remember what his doctor said? The only word that he had said was fire.”

She turned to Ixchel. “The Maya people, they are found throughout Central America, yes?”

“Yes,” replied Ixchel.

“Including Honduras?”

“Yes, there is a very large Maya population in Honduras.”

“Sam, do you remember what else the doctor said?”

Clark stood up. “Yes, his mumblings. Are you saying that Bonsam was mumbling in the language of the ancient Maya?”

“What are you talking about?” asked Ixchel.

“Sam, think about it,” Martineau pleaded.

Clark turned to Clay. “Clay, I need you to get with the tech shop and get them to set up a computer station in this office for Ixchel and Daniel. Top level security.”

“You got it, Sam,” Clay replied. “Daniel, come with me. I need you to make sure that the tech nerds get you everything you need.” Clark watched the two men as they left the room, not quite knowing how to react to being called by his first name by Clay. He just shook his head and smiled.

Martineau looked at Clark, “We need to share this with Holden.”

“He’s kind of busy right now, Kenna,” he replied.

“Sam, he has to know.”

As Clark and Martineau approached the Situation Room guard station, they saw Holden heading their way.
 
“Hello,” he said as he walked between them and continued down the hall. Clark and Martineau spun around and followed after him.

“Mike, I know you’re swamped, but I need thirty seconds of your time, no more,” said Clark.

“Then come in here,” replied Holden as he pushed open a men’s room door. “I’ve got to pee so bad my eyes are turning yellow.”
 

Martineau looked at Clark, motioned toward the door and said, “Be my guest.”

Holden went straight to the nearest urinal. “
Ahhh
. I needed to get out of there for a minute,” he said as he stared at the wall in front of him.

 
“How are things going?” asked Clark.

“Terrible. You now have 25 seconds.”

“Mike, now hear me out,” Clark said hesitantly, “and keep an open mind.”

“Twenty seconds.”

“Okay, okay,” said Clark. “Mike, archaeologists have discovered an ancient Maya artifact with carvings on it that predict the world’s devastation, and the archaeologists believe that the prophecy is linked to Bonsam. They think that he will somehow cause a cataclysmic event that will annihilate the entire planet.” Clark replayed what he had just said in his mind and realized just how ridiculous it sounded when spoken aloud.