Goliath

“The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them.”

—George Bernard Shaw

“I hate the Jew. There is only one way they will leave Auschwitz—through the smokestacks!”

—Karl Adolf Eichmann, Nazi SS leader who oversaw the extermination of six million Jews

CHAPTER 14

2 November

White House Washington, D.C.

General Michael “Bear” Jackson enters the White House Situation Room, both of his wrists immobilized in fiberglass casts up to his midforearm. The chamber is crowded, packed four to five deep around the center conference table. Conversations are a mix of shock, outrage, and calls for revenge.

Jackson listens briefly, then takes his place at the table beside the Secretary of the Navy. President Jeff Edwards calls for quiet.

“Gentlemen … and ladies, please. By now, everyone should have a copy of Covah’s list of demands. The emergency session of the United Nations convenes in less than two hours, so we don’t have much time. Secretary Nunziata.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.” Nick Nunziata adjusts his wire-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose and opens his folder. “A few ground rules before we begin. The purpose of this meeting is not to debate whether this lunatic will launch his nuclear weapons. As we’ve already seen from the attack on the CVBG, Covah has both the will and military might to follow through on his threats. Instead, our objective this morning is to determine the proper posture and course of action our country will take in regard to each one of these demands.”

A rustle of paper as the National Security Advisors take out their copies of Simon Covah’s Declaration of Humanity.

DECLARATION OF HUMANITY

We, THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, in conjunction with the International Court of Justice, do hereby accuse the Heads of State of failing to implement and enact a comprehensive Global Non-Proliferation Treaty that guarantees complete and total nuclear disarmament by all nuclear powers. In unison, we declare that the collective welfare and rights of society must prevail over the narrow-minded views of the few. In an attempt to prevent the eradication of our species, and to, furthermore: Stop the escalating violence among ruling factions, End the tyranny of military dictatorships, Wipe out the zealots who seek to destroy society, and Guarantee the God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness among all citizens of this planet, we hereby make the following demands:

1. The complete and immediate cancellation of the United States Missile Defense Shield Program.

DEADLINE: 3 November 12:01 P.M. Greenwich

2. The complete and immediate cancellation of Pure-Fusion Technology, as well as the immediate destruction of the following existing Pure-Fusion facilities:

a. The United States National Ignition Facility at Livermore, California

b. The Laser Megajoule Complex at Bordeaux, France

c. Center for Atomic Research, Los Alamos, New Mexico

DEADLINE: 4 November 12:01 P.M. Greenwich

3. The public execution of the following criminals:

A. Saddam Hussein DEADLINE: 5 November 12:01 P.M. Baghdad B. Slobodan Milosevic DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. Yugoslavia C. Kim Jong II DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. N. Korea D. Fidel Castro DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. Cuba E. Moamer al-Khaddhafi DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. Tripoli

4. The execution of a Global Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty calling for the immediate verifiable and complete dismantling of all thermonuclear devices.

Execution of Treaty DEADLINE: 10 November 12:01 P.M. Greenwich Dismantling of Devices DEADLINE: 2 December 12:01 P.M. Greenwich

5. Declaration of Independence and demilitarization of:

A.Tibet CHINA’S DEADLINE: 11 November 12:01 Beijing B. Kosovo YUGOSLAVIA DEADLINE: 15 November 12:01 Belgrade

6. The complete cessation of military action between government and rebel forces, the dismantling of dictatorships and regimes, and the subsequent organization of multiparty free elections to establish a lasting, enforceable, and accountable working democracy in:

“A little something in here for everyone, huh,” Nunziata says.

“Some of this reads like a Pentagon wish list,” remarks Vice President Maller. “He wants to wipe out terrorism, I say go for it. Lord knows we’ve been trying for years.”

“Ridiculous,” grumbles Secretary of Defense Austin Tapscott. “These first two demands destroy over four decades’ worth of military research, development, and technology,”

“The first two demands are window dressing,” General Jackson states. “Covah is deliberately putting the United States to the test, and in so doing, removing our political handcuffs. At some point, he needs America to play enforcer.”

“Window dressing?” Austin Tapscott is incensed. “This maniac sank an entire carrier fleet. Now he expects us to destroy a 120-billion-dollar missile defense program?”

Jackson refuses to back down under the secretary’s glare. “Yes, a program that many of our Allies blame for destabilizing the nuclear stalemate, Mr. Secretary, and one, by the way, that still couldn’t destroy my wife’s Chevy Suburban if it was parked in an open field in the middle of goddamn Idaho.”

“Gentlemen, please—” The president turns to his Secretary of State. “Nick, what about this pure fusion thing?”

Nunziata shakes his head in disgust. “The DoD successfully kept the project out of the public eye for years. Exposing the technology could cause a public backlash, potentially making Covah look like a hero.”

Separate discussions break out, the anger raising the temperature in the war room.

General Jackson bangs the tabletop for quiet. “Mr. President, if we could get back to my point—”

“Your point is moot,” Nunziata says. “Saddam will never step down.”

“Covah knows that,” Jackson responds. “He’s essentially given Iraq’s population a few days to clear out, then he’ll launch a nuke. Baghdad will be wiped off the map.”

“Along with most of Saddam’s biological and plutonium supplies,” adds CIA Director Pertic. “I say, good riddance.”

Jackson nods in agreement. “The move accomplishes several psychological objectives. Covah gives the world two days to digest the impact of his attack. From that point on, you have a domino effect. Oppressed populations will literally toss the rest of these dictators into the street.”

President Edwards feels his chest tighten. “Let’s discuss item number four. What happens if we fail to reach a comprehensive nuclear non-proliferation treaty in time?”

“Then Covah will be forced to take out another major city, most likely in either the United States, Russia, or China,” Jackson answers. “He won’t target Washington, Moscow, or Beijing; it would cause too much governmental chaos, ultimately preventing the world from fulfilling the rest of his demands.”

“Our Trident submarines are back in their pens,” the Secretary of the Navy points out. “Covah might go after our naval bases at Bangor and Kings Bay.”

“Agreed. Probably Kings Bay, since he’ll still be operating out of the Atlantic.”

“Christ.” The president turns to his Secretary of State. “Nick, how are negotiations going on the nuclear treaty?”

“Honestly, sir, there’s not much to negotiate. Zero weapons means zero. It’s just a matter of setting up acceptable methods of verification. The sense I’m getting is that no one’s going to give this treaty any teeth until the first bomb goes off.”

“Which reverts to what General Jackson said. Covah needs to detonate at least one of his nukes for the world to take him seriously.”

“What about demand number six?” the vice president asks. “These paramilitary rebel forces aren’t going to just lay down their weapons. And don’t expect the Marxist governments to leave office either, even if Covah does start launching his missiles.”

“Covah’s trump card is radioactive fallout,” Jackson answers. “He knows the rest of the world can’t just sit idly by while he detonates nuclear bombs over Africa. Essentially, he’s forcing the United Nations to step in and handle the situation by using force—American force—the only thing these rebels understand.”

The president shakes his head in disbelief. “Is this really happening? Have we really painted ourselves into this corner? Are we really going to allow one man, aboard one submarine, to dictate to us and the rest of the world how we’re to live?”

“NUWC’s still working on a means of stopping the Goliath,” Jackson says. “Until then, we either comply … or prepare half a billion body bags.”

An hour later, the Bear finds himself alone with Jeff Edwards and Secretary Ayers in the presidential study.

“How’s the wrists?” Ayers asks.

“I won’t be writing my memoirs anytime soon.”

The president forces a grin. “Mike, what’s said in this room must remain among the three of us.”

“Understood.”

“What’s the status on the Colossus?”

“We’ve had three teams working on her round the clock since David Paniagua’s sabotage. Only one of her five reactors was salvageable. She’ll be back in her pen in three days, but it will take another six months to vent the sub and repair the damage.”

Ayers swears. “Paniagua … that little bastard.”

“But Joe-Pa’s signal is still strong?” the president asks.

“Yes, sir.”

“Is Operation Spitfire ready?”

“Yes, sir. I leave for White Sands in half an hour.”

“Good. You’ll report only to Secretary Ayers, is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“All decisions in this matter will come from the secretary, especially in light of the circumstances surrounding your daughter.”

“Understood, sir.” Jackson eyes the president warily. “Then you’re really going to let this scenario play out?”

“For now.”

“It’s a dangerous game, sir. The stakes are high.”

“So’s the prize,” Edwards says. “Think about it, Mike. Terrorist regimes destroyed, Cuba an American republic. If we play this right, we can have it all.”

“Assuming we can stop Covah when the time comes. Let’s not go into this with blinders on. While the YAL-1’s laser has passed all field tests …”

“We’ve taken that all into consideration,” the president says, placing his hand on the general’s shoulder. “Look, Mike, I know you’re worried about Rocky. What I need to know is whether I can count on you to see this thing through. Can I?”

Jackson grits his teeth. “Yes, sir.”