My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

~In God We Trust~

8

“Any luck, sir?” Ski asked as he rose from his crowded table in the Wardroom. By now all hands (aside from Chip and myself) believed I was on the president’s ‘task force’ to figure out how to neutralize radioactive and biohazard warheads despite the public information (aka disinformation as needed) office, that I was not holed up with other top level scientists working on the project. The crew was used to ‘non-official’ and secret orders from the White House, even before Lee had taken the office on. There was no need to let them know otherwise.

“Coming along,” I lied, finding citing falsehoods easier to do. In all honesty I have to put the blame clearly with Lee. Sometimes a spy had to do what a spy had to do. I learned this early on with Lee aboard the Nautilus and Seaview until he took on the presidency as he was on ONI’s active agent roster. And now as president, well, there are times national security takes precedence to the absolute truth.

“I’ll get your coffee, sir,” Ski said and I sat down across from Will at a different table.

The wall monitor was on, and the reception of the two of the split screens was fuzzy, the remaining three clear enough. Despite the mute in that multi-mode, just about everyone repeatedly glanced toward it. While no doubt the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles stations would be of interest, I knew the men were more interested in any news from Washington D.C. And not just for political updates, but for a chance to see the skipper. Former skipper of Seaview, or skipper of the ship of state, Lee simply inspired their loyalty.

“Something going on at the White House,” Ski said and undid the mute button selecting the lower screen to magnify.

“...Yesterday afternoon, there was another protest outside of the White House gates. While not unusual, this protest was, in that it was conducted by school children, out for the day due to a teacher’s conference...”

“...No more war! No more war!” a boy was shouting. “That wasn’t a volcano that exploded in the islands of Alaska. It was an atom bomb! The red missiles are here!”

“...And what about all the radiation and bio poisons in the oceans that we pushed some of them down into!” a girl yelled. “Stop the damn war before it’s too late!”

“...The grown-ups aren’t doing anything about this stupid war’s consequences,” the boy-leader said, “so we have to! Better to surrender to the PR Alliance than risk the consequences of radiation and bio poisoning! Even if they lob another bomb right on top of us and....”

Just then some of the protesters grabbed his sleeves, pointing....

Two ‘men in black’ had just emerged from one of the White House doors onto the lawn. Winston ran out between and ahead of them, his leash trailing after him, then noticing the children ran toward them, barking all the way. The men waited for his owner, as if dashing toward folks outside the gate was usual. The men spoke into their cell phones, casting glanced toward the protestors as the gate guardsmen glanced the children’s way.

“...I think we’re in trouble.” one of the kids said.

“...Don’t be such a dweeb!” the boy-leader told his companion, “They can’t prevent our freedom of speech,” the boy said and began to push his signs up and down, “No more war! No more war!”

Winston growled and barked.

“...Go to hell, you stupid dog!” the boy-leader shouted.

Just then Lee, in Academy sweats and denim eyepatch, emerged from the building, the men in black pointing to the doggie escape artist and the protestors and asked him something. Lee shook his head ‘no’ and began to head over to his dog and the protestors, the Secret Service agents in front and beside him.

“...It’ him!” one of the girls said. “He may be a bad man, but he sure is cute!”

“...Oh good God,” one of the boys answered just as the president and the agents approached.

“...Winston?” Lee said, “Stop!”

“...Let’s go!” one of the kids whined.

“...He can’t do anything to us! We’re kids! There’s laws!”

“I’m sorry,” Lee said, bending down to hook the leash into Winston’s collar. “Winston takes his position as my chief babysitter a bit too seriously.”

“...Babysitter?” one of the kids asked.

“...Yeah. I have a lot of them,” Lee said with a grin, nodding toward the agents with him and toward the guards at the nearby gate. “Goes with the job...so, tell me, kids, what’s going on here?” he asked gently.

“...It’s our constitutionally guaranteed right to protest your stupid war!” the boy-leader said.

“...Indeed,” Lee said calmly. “But it’s not stupid or....”

“...Admit it!” a girl interrupted. “That volcano in Alaska wasn’t an eruption at all! It was a red missile you couldn’t divert or shoot down! And now, its radiation and bugs are going to poison our air and kill all the wildlife, and us too as it gets into the food chain! Just like all those other missiles you guys shoved away with your fancy electronics and pushed into the oceans.”

“...That volcano’s not a volcano?” Lee seemed to consider seriously. “First I’ve heard about it not being one, and I’m usually pretty well informed....”

“...You’re lying!” the boy shouted, “Just like the ‘Save the World’ blog said you would! Stop the war! Surrender! Rather have the reds in charge of the country than you!”

“...We can pull the blog down,” an agent told his boss, showing his cellphone photo of the blog and its global network.

Lee shook his head ‘no’.

“...Americans have a right to voice their opinions,” Lee said, “even if they’re lies or fairy tales. But go ahead and check where the signal’s from. It’s quite another thing if it’s a plant by the PR Alliance.”

Then Lee returned his attention to the children. “Look, children, don’t you think you should check out what that blog’s posting? You’re all smart enough to know that opinions aren’t necessarily the truth and....”

“...You’re lying!”

Winston growled fiercely.

“...Easy, buddy,” Lee ordered his dog, then resumed his conversation with the kids, “Let’s say for a moment that I call things off like you want me to. That we surrender to the PR Alliance. Do you really want to lose your freedoms? You would, you know. All of them. For example, if the PR was in charge you’d be arrested and probably shot for protesting anything. There’d be no speaking your minds. No more doing what you want....”

“...Now you’re getting all political!”

“...I suppose I am, but I don’t think you realize what surrendering all of your constitutional rights would mean. For you and for everyone and....”

“...Oh shut up!”

“...A bit hard for me to do that,” Lee said with a slight smirk. “Look, it’s chilly out here. Why not join me indoors for some hot chocolate. Then we can all sit down calmly and discuss your concerns. I’m as concerned as you about radiation and super bug poisoning and I have top men on the problem....”

I had to raise my eyebrow at that. Had he assembled some scientists to solve the problem after all?”

“...You’ll just try to change our minds!” they boy-leader said.

“...Probably, but I do want to hear all you have to say. I can tell you that all of the PR warheads have been recovered and defused, and are being inspected in quarantine facilities.”

I had to consider that might be true.

“... I will tell you, however, that I don’t think I’ll give that blog much credence without proof of what it’s stating. What do you say I take you to Operations so you see the most recent satellite imaging system, the same one that showed me the Aleutian Island chain of volcanos? I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that the recent volcanic explosion was seismic, not a big boom.”

“...What if your goons fake the pictures they show us?”

“...Well it’s your choice to believe your eyes or not, besides there wouldn’t be time for any covert change...so, how about it. The offer of hot chocolate in the Oval Office still stands.”

The kids clustered together in whispers.

“...We’ll be able to leave whenever we want?” a girl asked defiantly.

“...Of course. No one is a prisoner in the White House, except perhaps me. So, do I tell the kitchen to start boiling some water? I’m afraid I’ve hurt the chef’s feelings in that I prefer the instant stuff. I can also ask him to set out the marshmallows and whipped cream. By the way, if you do decide to join me, make sure you don’t offer Sweetie any of the whipped cream. Did you know dairy products aren’t good for cats despite how much they like them.”

Nearly all of the children laughed and began to put down their signs.

“...No, you don’t have to leave those behind. I’ll be along shortly...Winston still needs to attend to a few things.”

All of the children agreed to take up the presidential offer, and the agents led them to the gate where the marines signed them all in while Lee guided Winston to his favorite shrubbery and rock garden to do his business.

Just as the last child had been checked in and through the gate, Lee and Winston returned and headed back toward the White House.

At one point a girl took over Winston’s leash and skipped along beside the president. Soon the group, along with the Secret Service agents were shown inside the building...

“...How many of us,” the reporter said, “would like to be flies on the wall inside the White House. One thing is for certain, President Nelson-Crane has shown himself to be the father of the nation, and its children. Perhaps the president will re-establish Abe Lincoln’s policy of letting anyone in the White House to discuss their grievances. From CNN, we return you to our regularly scheduled programming. We now return to our regular program....”

“Admiral? Captain?” Sparks called out over the PA. “Video call for you from the West Wing of the White House. Lt. Cdr. Jackson, waiting on the line.”

“Very well,” Nelson answered on the mike, “We’ll be in my cabin shortly.”

“Aye sir. Advanced security procedures for the videophone.”

“Roger that,” I said, “Damn, I hate those retina scans...always make my eyes water. Have Doc stand by with some eye-drops.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

Chip was waiting for me outside my cabin with Doc, who handed me the squeeze bottle of eye-drops and a handkerchief. I allowed him to squeeze the drops into both my eyes as procedure dictated I have both of my retinas scanned. I headed inside while Chip went under the same procedure, then joined me, closing the door behind him.

We said nothing as the videophone, already on Advanced Mode, scanned our eyes and fingerprints.

Then the image of Jackson came into view.

“Admiral, Captain,” he said, “We have problem than could erupt into a major issue...”

“The ‘Save the World’ blog?” I asked.

“So, you saw the broadcast?”

“Well, it was after the fact when we saw it...”

“Lee was correct that such American blogs are protected,” Joe said, “but....”

“Is it the PR’s?” Chip interrupted.

“No,” Joe sighed. “100 percent American. Based in California, but...”

“Go on, Joseph,” I said.

“The owner is incarcerated at one of the Federal Penitentiaries....”

“Well, that’s just dandy,” Chip said, “I thought prisoners weren’t allowed such liberties.”

“It’s more than a guy making up anti-war propaganda, Chip. “He’s got a major grudge against Lee....the owner’s Ronald Nelson.”

“Oh, gawd,” Chip groaned.

“Does Lee know?” I asked having to rein in my fury at my biological son. Having disowned him after his attempt to assassinate and mutilate us wasn’t enough. I wished he were dead.

“Not yet,” Joe said. “In fact he might be po’d that I had the CIA do more than just confirm it wasn’t the PR’s anti American propaganda. “Still, he needs to know where the so called ‘info’ is coming from, though....”

“Any truth to Ronald’s allegations?” I had to ask. “Was there a boom?”

His hesitation answered the question.

“Damn,” I muttered, more for the tangled web Lee was weaving by his denial.

“There was no option. Lee had no choice but to deny it. The panic...the....”

“Yes, yes, I know the need for plausible deniability in the time of war...when the public does find out there’ll be hell to pay...”

“We’ll all be dead by then. The details will be sealed for a hundred years. And rumors will only be rumors or hearsay.”

“How did Ronald get his info?”

“Apparently he was suspicious of an online weather satellite....”

“Which wouldn’t be detailed enough,” Chip said.

“No,” Joe said. “But he might have been approached by the PR. Still looking into it.”

“What about the images Lee is showing to those kids? There wouldn’t be time to rig them not to show anything...”

“You’d be surprised,” Joe said, “especially as Lee also ordered some graham crackers and popcorn for the kids while they discussed things before going to Operations.”

“I’d sure like to be a fly on that wall the reporter mentioned,” Chip said then noticed Joe’s smirk. “Don’t tell me you have secret cams in the Oval Office?”

“Who, us? Seriously, if the president wants something recorded, he can push a button to turn them on. If not, well, there’s no way we can spy on anything that goes on in there.”

“Too bad,” I said, “I’d like to see how he handled those children.”

“Well, I can tell you the stewards reported that when they brought in the repast, he was sitting cross legged on the carpet with some of the kids who couldn’t fit onto the sofas. Anyway, Sweetie made a nuisance of herself trying to lick the whipped cream on his and the kids’ mugs. Didn’t manage to, but there was a lot of ooh-ing and ahh-ing over her by the kids. Winston was a bit jealous and made a nuisance of himself as well, managing to get fed some of the crackers. Even from that stupid boy.”

“Guess he really is the father of the nation, and her kids,” Chip said.

“Well, tell Lee I’d like to speak with him,” I said.

“He’ll want a specific reason,” Joe said.

“Somehow, I think he’ll know.”

“Yes, Admiral.”

“Very well. Seaview out,” I ended the video-call.

“Lee didn’t have a choice but to lie, sir,” Chip told me.

“I know...still...he’ll go down in history as a liar, even if he’s doing all he can to save the nation...and the world. Well, I’d better get busy trying to figure out how to neutralize radiation and bio bugs.”

“Even if all of your egghead scientist buddies say it’s nonsense to think it can be done?”

“Even so, Lad, even so.”

~***~

Chapter Nine