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>Frank, I’m going to send the Russians the data.
There is an intake of breath from the rest of the table while he nods, but before he can pick up the phone you point at him and continue.
>But I want this crystal clear. Before you send out any transmissions I want a written order, signed by me, sent out to all service chiefs and major commands; this is a lawful, time-limited deconfliction to prevent a nuclear mistake. Objections go up the chain only—no freelancing, no leaks—under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Offenders will be dealt with accordingly. Fred, do I have your support on this?
Schultz bobs his head eagerly. “Of course, sir. With no exception.”
You nod in his direction. You’re glad you picked him as your Attorney General, there are few better experts in law.
>Thank you. Frank, I’ll also want you, with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the senior military legal counsel, or Judge Advocate General, or whoever it is we have here pulled into a room to get them briefed on the situation. I want the order put in writing—narrow, time-boxed, and strictly to avert a nuclear misread, not “help the enemy.” They sign it; chain of command stays intact; the brass reads it as duty, not betrayal.
Frank nods, and picks up his phone. You breathe our, but you’re not done yet. You look at your Chief of Staff, Kate.
>I’ll also want a call to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House; Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate; and the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Keep them in the tent and on the record that the scope is limited and temporary. Everything by the book.
“Nothing we’re doing is by the book.” You briefly hear Albert mutter beside you, but you don’t respond. Instead, you repeat your orders to confirm Frank and Kate get everything. Kate shrugs her shoulders and says that it’ll take about an hour to get everyone organised, but that it’ll be done. You thank them both and lean back in your chair. You’ve done what you can, but there’s no guarantee that everything will go smoothly. You just have to hope and pray, like everything else you’re doing tonight.
A few minutes later, Frank looks up from the phone.
“Sir. The Norweigan taskforce reports that they have a lead on the sub, waiting for confirmation on the radar pings now. Soviets are being cooperative. They believe it’s somewhere near the surface sir, they’re still searching from the air. Should be finding it soon.”
>Thank God. Relay my thanks to the commanders in charge, ours and the Soviets.
