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chapter 1

The President was not looking forward to his first press conference, especially in the White House Press Room in front of all those scowling reporters. He had wanted to do it in the comfort of the Oval Office, sitting behind his desk, with no one around but the TV people and the Secret Service. In the end, he felt it was necessary. It was also the right thing to do to give this press conference in person, because he was the one who ordered the strike, and he was confident at the time that he had done the right thing when it was ordered. What he was about to tell the people of not only the United States, but also the rest of the world, filled him with trepidation, only because it could anger enough of the right people to get him impeached and kicked out of office. The United States government had kept this secret now for more than sixty years, and now was time to tell the world. He himself had not known about it until scientists had finally figured out the technology to do what he had just ordered the military to do. The previous administration was informed, but that particular president, since he was leaving office, wanted to pass the buck, and let the new administration deal with it. So, here he was, a new president with less than one month in office, walking into the Press Room as his press secretary was introducing him, feeling as if the whole world was on his shoulders.