General Hynes watched the President’s speech with a sense of foreboding. “Why is he doing this?” he demanded of no one in particular. “This project was to remain secret. Now everyone knows about it.”
“To be fair, sir,” Major Dobb said in his soft spoken voice, “the Russians and Chinese already knew about our new TACAIR prototype.” He shrugged. “I would hardly call it a secret.”
Hynes threw a frown at his aide. “That’s beside the point. The President doesn’t have the right to go around revealing military secrets.”
“He is the President, sir.”
“That doesn’t mean much,” Hynes grunted, waving his hand in dismissal. “The ability to deliver a speech and sway few masses of ignorant followers does not preclude military intelligence. I’m telling you, people are not going to gulp down such crap.”
Dobb wisely decided to change the subject. “What does this mean to the project?”
The general drummed his fingers on the table while staring at the monitor. The President was droning on about his support for the military, his appreciation for all they did, and so on and so on. Hog wash! The man was a politician, nothing more. “I don’t know. The President isn’t done yet. I got a feeling he’s about to blindside us.”
They both turned to the monitor to listen. The President continued, “As a result of this research, we have established a climate that has made us few friends across the globe. The world must enter into a new phase of friendship and understanding, and the United States should pioneer the way.” The President paused to scan the room, the camera catching every movement with startling clarity. Tension built, Hynes could feel it even though he wasn’t physically there. “Therefore, in a conciliatory gesture, I am ordering the cessation of all experimental military projects, including the advanced next generation tactical aircraft TACAIRs Project. All prototypes will be dismantled immediately, and a special oversight committee formed from the international community will oversee the dismantling of these warplanes.”
“What!” Hynes practically came out of his seat. “He can’t do that!”
“He’s the President,” Dobb retorted, sarcasm evident in his voice.
“Doesn’t he know what that will mean to our national security? Doesn’t he understand the implications?”
Dobb didn’t respond, but turned back to the monitor. The President’s voice droned on, “We can no longer be a nation apart. We must embrace the fact that we are a world united by our humanity, and to think otherwise would be to continue the cycle of violence that has been the staple of our society for so long. Things must change, and we will begin that change here and now.”
“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” General Hynes muttered. “Get me the Sec-Def on the phone, Major. Maybe he can talk some sense into the President.”
“And what if he can’t? The President just went public with this, General. To rescind an executive order of such a magnitude would be embarrassing to say the least.”
Hynes fumed. He completely understood the ramifications, even if the President did not. Didn’t the man know that there were people out there who would not play by his rules? They only wanted power and wealth, and they would be willing to do anything to get it. “What are our options?”
Dobb looked surprised. “I don’t know that we have many other than obeying the President’s wishes. If we have to dismantle the TACAIR project, how are we going to do it?”
The general began drumming his fingers again as he considered the problem. “Who did we use to get rid of the other prototypes?”
“The older models?”
“Yes.”
“Most of the material was recycled—I suspect we will do the same in this case. What we can’t recycle, we need to destroy and dispose of safely.”
“What can’t be recycled?”
“Some of the equipment is specialized…hardened titanium meant to withstand a pounding and protect the computer cores. These will have to be disposed of discretely.”
“Who did we use in the past?”
“Wastend. They hold nationwide contracts as well as most of the major governmental contracts. They do business worldwide.”
“Isn’t that the company that is on strike right now in New York?”
“It is?”
“I don’t want to use them. They’d be more trouble than they’re worth right now.”
Dobb looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, sir, but they have a proprietary contract with the military. I think we have to use them.”
Hynes swore. “They did good work before?”
“They disposed of the computer modules of several of our former aircraft prototypes.”
Dobb listened to the general’s fingers drumming on the table. Finally the grey haired general stood to his nearly six foot height. “Fine. If we have to use them we will. Get the CEO on the phone. Tell him our situation and order him to end this strike now. If we have to use them, I don’t want to wait.” He glanced at the monitor that showed the President fielding questions from the press corp. “I got the feeling that the President will want immediate action on this.”
“I agree, sir.”
“Call the other joint chiefs. They all have a stake in this.” The four-star general threw one more irritated glance at the TV monitor. “Madness. Let’s hope someone can talk some sense into the President before it is too late.”