what do you think of a preemptive attack on Mexico’s cartels?”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he said, obviously irritated by not being included in the discussion with Vice President Pike. “However, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand. Our country has enough to worry about without drug cartels moving in.”
She nodded. “Okay, we’ll take that up with the generals. What else, Tom?”
“The situation on the northern border is very different. Canada wasn’t hit as hard as the US, and we’ve already received formal complaints that many of our residents are crossing over in search of food and emergency supplies.”
“Does that strike anyone else as ironic?” she asked. “Immigrants are rushing in from the south while our citizens are fleeing to the north?” She didn’t wait for an answer, waving away the question. “It doesn’t matter. The Canadians will have to deal with it for now. We’re not going to put what few resources remain toward keeping people from leaving the country.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, jotting something down on a pad.
“How are we doing inside the borders?” she asked. “Are we still being plagued by infighting?”
“We are, but Jack might be better able to answer that.” Pinker turned to Jack Fry, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
President Glass had known Jack for longer than any of the other men, and she considered him a close friend. Shortly after she took office, he had been involved in an auto accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair. Despite his injuries, he had not lost his almost grandfatherly way of dealing with those around him.
“Jack?” she said.
He smiled warmly at her.
“Ma’am, I’m afraid that it’s gone from bad to just plain awful. Violence and lawlessness are spreading to every corner of the country. Of course, we’re still trying to get supplies out, but given that they now require full military escort, we’ve had to greatly reduce the number of relief convoys.”
“What about air drops? Can’t we drop food and supplies using cargo planes?”
“General Carr and I have been working on that,” he said, gesturing to the general. “The problem is one of putting supplies in the hands of law-abiding citizens and not violent militias. Also, there are obvious issues with the availability of planes, fuel, and crew. But challenges aside, we will begin a campaign of air-dropping supplies in the coming weeks.”
“But that’s not going to be enough, is it?” she said. It was more of a statement than a question.
“No, ma’am, it won’t be nearly enough.”
“Which means that people will continue to resort to taking what they need.”
He nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
She turned back to General Carr.
“How are we with clearing a few major cities? Places where we can provide security and supplies for those who remain.”
He opened one of his folders and removed a map. On it were symbols denoting different military units. There were surprisingly few of them.
“We’ve begun moving forces to establish supply routes,” he said, moving his finger across the map. “Our plan is to start with three cities: Denver, Norfolk, and Olympia.”
“Why those cities?”
“Norfolk and Olympia provide port access, and Denver is centrally located. All three are small enough to be cleared in a reasonable time frame. A city like Los Angeles or New York would be years in the making.”
“All right,” she said. “And how long do you think it will take to clear these three cities?”
“That’s tough to say for certain. We have two issues to deal with. The first is handling the infected survivors, some of whom are more cooperative than others.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“Tell me you’re not planning to just go in and kill them all.”
“No, ma’am. Those who have devolved will be put down. The rest will be registered and allowed to stay
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he said, obviously irritated by not being included in the discussion with Vice President Pike. “However, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand. Our country has enough to worry about without drug cartels moving in.”
She nodded. “Okay, we’ll take that up with the generals. What else, Tom?”
“The situation on the northern border is very different. Canada wasn’t hit as hard as the US, and we’ve already received formal complaints that many of our residents are crossing over in search of food and emergency supplies.”
“Does that strike anyone else as ironic?” she asked. “Immigrants are rushing in from the south while our citizens are fleeing to the north?” She didn’t wait for an answer, waving away the question. “It doesn’t matter. The Canadians will have to deal with it for now. We’re not going to put what few resources remain toward keeping people from leaving the country.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, jotting something down on a pad.
“How are we doing inside the borders?” she asked. “Are we still being plagued by infighting?”
“We are, but Jack might be better able to answer that.” Pinker turned to Jack Fry, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
President Glass had known Jack for longer than any of the other men, and she considered him a close friend. Shortly after she took office, he had been involved in an auto accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair. Despite his injuries, he had not lost his almost grandfatherly way of dealing with those around him.
“Jack?” she said.
He smiled warmly at her.
“Ma’am, I’m afraid that it’s gone from bad to just plain awful. Violence and lawlessness are spreading to every corner of the country. Of course, we’re still trying to get supplies out, but given that they now require full military escort, we’ve had to greatly reduce the number of relief convoys.”
“What about air drops? Can’t we drop food and supplies using cargo planes?”
“General Carr and I have been working on that,” he said, gesturing to the general. “The problem is one of putting supplies in the hands of law-abiding citizens and not violent militias. Also, there are obvious issues with the availability of planes, fuel, and crew. But challenges aside, we will begin a campaign of air-dropping supplies in the coming weeks.”
“But that’s not going to be enough, is it?” she said. It was more of a statement than a question.
“No, ma’am, it won’t be nearly enough.”
“Which means that people will continue to resort to taking what they need.”
He nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
She turned back to General Carr.
“How are we with clearing a few major cities? Places where we can provide security and supplies for those who remain.”
He opened one of his folders and removed a map. On it were symbols denoting different military units. There were surprisingly few of them.
“We’ve begun moving forces to establish supply routes,” he said, moving his finger across the map. “Our plan is to start with three cities: Denver, Norfolk, and Olympia.”
“Why those cities?”
“Norfolk and Olympia provide port access, and Denver is centrally located. All three are small enough to be cleared in a reasonable time frame. A city like Los Angeles or New York would be years in the making.”
“All right,” she said. “And how long do you think it will take to clear these three cities?”
“That’s tough to say for certain. We have two issues to deal with. The first is handling the infected survivors, some of whom are more cooperative than others.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“Tell me you’re not planning to just go in and kill them all.”
“No, ma’am. Those who have devolved will be put down. The rest will be registered and allowed to stay
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