| |
Camp David
15 Feb
0200 Local Time
Admiral McCallister stood waiting at the front of the room as President Johnson and Bradley took their seats in the conference room. They were joined only by General Kelly and Secretary of Defense Hunt.
“Whenever you’re ready, Admiral,” Johnson said as he took his seat. The LED TVs were hidden by a large drop-down projector screen. McCallister pressed a button on the remote in his hand and a slide marked “OPERATION NAUTILUS SPEAR” with red TOP SECRET markings at the top and bottom and a satellite photograph of Midway Atoll in the center.
Johnson assumed that they had chosen the name Nautilus based on the famous submarine that had been instrumental in winning the Battle of Midway. It was fitting for what they were attempting, but pointless, given the inevitable outcome.
“Mr. President, Secretary Hunt, General Kelly, welcome to the mission briefing for Operation Nautilus Spear. This briefing is classified Top Secret,” he said as he clicked to the next slide. The slide showed the basic background of the mission in bullet format.
“As we’re all aware, the President is being held captive by a force between fifty and one hundred fighters on Midway Atoll. We also estimate that there are between one and seventy-five hostages being held at this time,” McCallister said as he clicked to the next slide.
“Based on transmissions we’ve received from a downed pilot on the island, we estimate that small arms, man portable surface to air missiles, and improvised explosive devices are our greatest threat,” McCallister continued, taking a sip of water as he clicked to the next slide showing a zoom in on a still picture of the masked man that had executed the pilot on live television.
“This is an enhanced picture of the nuclear device that the hostage takers have threatened to use in the event of a rescue attempt,” McCallister said as he paused to review his notes. “Based on the dimensions and what limited data our analysts could pull from this picture, we estimate this to be a low-yield nuclear device with a five to ten kiloton warhead. For reference, the Little Boy bomb dropped on Hiroshima was a fifteen-kiloton blast. So, this is roughly one to two thirds of that.”
McCallister clicked forward to the next slide, showing three overlapping circles shaded in red, orange, and yellow. “Based on worst-case assessments, if the device is detonated, these are the danger areas. The red is the initial heat blast from the explosion. As you can see, this radius extends out to one point one miles from the detonation site. The orange represents the initial radiation that would cause a greater than fifty percent mortality rate to individuals exposed to it. The threat from this is only out to three quarters of a mile based on a ten-kiloton device. This number does not include nuclear fallout. And finally, the yellow represents the secondary radiation exposure. This radius extends out to six and a half miles downwind of the blast.”
“So, what are you saying the safe zone is, Admiral?” President Johnson interrupted.
“Our planning is based on an eight-mile buffer, sir,” McCallister responded. “But as you’ll see in a moment, our intent is to not have the weapon detonate.”
“Continue,” Johnson replied.
McCallister advanced to another slide showing a map with a submarine icon near Midway Island. “The U.S.S. Jacksonville Los Angeles Class Submarine is parked twenty miles off the coast of Midway with a team of twenty SEALS from DEVGRU. Four NEST team members are en route from the Ronald Reagan to the Jacksonville as we speak. We expect them to be on board within the hour and ready to deploy.”
McCallister clicked the remote and an animation appeared on screen, showing two smaller submarine icons moving from the Jacksonville toward Midway. “Using two Advanced SEAL Delivery System subs each with ten SEALS and four NEST members, the two teams will split and proceed to separate anchor locations eight miles offshore. From there, they will each inflate three Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts and proceed to these six locations.”
The slide advanced, showing six red dots scattered on the west and north sides of the island where the teams would make landfall. “Based on infrared imagery we were able to gather from the U-2 flyover an hour ago, we believe the hostage takers are conducting operations in Midway’s residential village and near the airfield itself.”
Johnson stopped McCallister as he showed the U-2 imagery. “General, what’s that off to the side there? That bright white spot?”
“We believe that’s Air Force One, sir,” McCallister said, pointing at the large blob. “It appears to have been detonated or set on fire.”
“My God,” Johnson replied. “Savages.”
“Yes, sir,” McCallister said as he advanced slides to a timeline slide. “Once on the island, the six teams will begin sweeping their prospective areas of responsibility in search of the nuclear device and the President or any hostages. If the President is located first, the team with her will immediately exfil back to the ASDS and return to the Jacksonville while the remaining NEST members find and disarm the nuclear device.”
“What about the dead man’s switch? Wasn’t that a thing in one of the videos?” Johnson asked.
“It was, sir, but we did not see it in the latest video,” McCallister replied. “However, each team member will be carrying a modified X12 Taser Less Lethal Shotgun. It has the capability to shoot Taser cartridges out to eighty-eight feet, which will result in complete muscle contraction for up to twenty seconds and thereby prevent the release of any dead man switch.”
“Impressive,” Johnson replied.
“If the nuclear device is found and successfully deactivated prior to or in conjunction with securing the President and the other hostages, an Air Force C-17 will be holding outside the MANPAD threat ring and standing by to land and exfil the hostages,” McCallister continued.
“And if I give you the green light right now, how long will this mission take?” Johnson asked.
McCallister looked at his watch. “Sir, if you give us the go ahead right now, all teams can be ‘Feet Dry’ in two and a half hours. If all goes well, the President will be safely on board the Jacksonville by morning.”
Johnson looked at his watch and thought about it for a moment as he did the mental math. Based on the previous video, he had to calculate the timeline. After working the numbers through his head twice, he was convinced that his plan would work.
“Admiral, you are authorized to proceed with this operation,” Johnson said as he stood. “I trust we will be able to follow its progress here?”
“Absolutely, sir, in real time,” Admiral McCallister replied.
“Excellent,” Johnson said as the rest of the people in the room stood. “Excellent work.”