Chapter 37

"It is six-fifty-nine A.M. and this is Wolf Blitzer, for CNN.

"While you slept, America was attacked. The White House is a burning shambles and President Thornton is among those missing. Vice President Gray assumed power under the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, sometime during the night, aboard Air Force Two, and will speaking live in just a few moments.

"We've been covering the attacks on Washington almost since they began around three A.M. We can tell you that there are reports that the Pentagon, Vice Presidential Mansion and NORAD were also attacked, but without success. Several key sources tell CNN that those attacks may have been diversionary tactics to draw attention away from the main target, the White House.

"The pictures you are watching are all that is left of the White House. 'America's House, ' is how Ronald Reagan used to refer to it. The attack was carried out with surgical precision, and many insiders fear that loss of life is extensive, but experts tell CNN bomb damage to the edifice is such that rescue workers have to be extremely careful, or risk causing additional collapse that could slow down attempts to reach the President even more.

"We understand that Acting president Gray has ordered America's Defense Status to Defense Condition TWO – or 'Def Con Two, ' if you will. Def-Con Two means we are at the highest military readiness, America. The attacks last night are an act of war, and anyone that has met, and spent time with the Vice President, now Acting President Gray, knows he is one tough man.

"The former Governor of Kansas is said to be someone you do not wish to tackle. If our enemies are so egotistical that they would attack America so blatantly, then whatever the Acting President brings to them will have been fully earned, and may God have mercy on them, because John Gray will have none.

"We will be going live to Air Force One, in just a few moments - but yes America - I did say Air Force One. The moment the Cabinet gave unanimous approval to having Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts order the Twenty-Sixth Amendment invoked, the aircraft carrying the Vice President was renamed Air Force One.

"He will be speaking briefly, and we hope to have more details soon after his statement.

"We go now to Air Force One and Acting President John Gray..."

It was my turn to talk, instead of sit and stare at the camera. We had massaged my comments for an hour, and though I wanted to simply tell those watching that everything would be fine, that wasn't going to cut it.

"Good Morning ladies and Gentlemen. Sometime about three A.M. aggressive military forces attacked the White House, the Pentagon, NORAD, and my temporary home located at the United States Naval Observatory. I was not home at the time, and as a result, I was spared the face-to-face ordeal of dealing with a determined assault.

"President Thornton was home, with his wife Diane, his only child, Shirley, and their only grandchild, little Casey Thornton. Due to the nature of the attack we lost communication with the underground bunkers where the President takes refuge in times such as this, and until rescue workers can dig their way down to those bunkers, I have been ordered by the Supreme Court to assume the President's duties under the terms of the US Constitution.

"That should not last more than day, if that, but until President Thornton is rescued, and safe, that is the situation.

"Among the things we are most concerned with, today, is keeping the streets of Washington free of unnecessary traffic, while rescue personnel care for the wounded and, our soldiers and law enforcement agents track down and take into custody, all those responsible. To that end, I am asking that you not drive into DC until we tell you it's safe, and your presence won't impede our first responders.

"For at least the rest of today, airports, and other means of mass transportation are going to be closed to civilian traffic. Though you might see buses, or trains running, they will be supporting the rescue effort. Please respect the critical nature of our rescue operations enough not to tie up law enforcement dealing with other issues.

"Someone has declared war on America but failed to announce themselves. Not to worry, folks, our investigative services are deeply delving into the activities of last night, and a picture is developing of who would be insane enough to bring such horror down on themselves, and their nation. The people who hurt President Charles Thornton and his family will rue the day they dreamed up such an idiotic idea.