The Last Crusade

The Last Crusade by Ira Tabankin Page B

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Authors: Ira Tabankin
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the yield is between 300-400kt.”
     
    “Shit, they’re going to think it was one of ours. Who the hell nuked Moscow? Could the Caliphate have hit them?”
     
    “Sir, the weapons they got from Pakistan are all in the 10-30kt range.”
     
    “Then who’s it? Hurry, our lives depend on finding out where it came from.”
     
    While the staff is back checking satellite images, an alarm screams in the Moutain, “MISSILE LAUNCH DETECTION. MISSILE LAUNCH DETECTION.”
     
    Everyone in the command and control room holds their breath. The general yells,
     
    “Where was it launched from, where’s it going?”
     
    “Sir, launch location the Atlantic. Sir, the track of incoming missile shows it will land in New York City.”
     
    The commanding general of NORAD picks up the red phone, calling the President to alert her to the incoming attack. The red phone in the White House goes unanswered. The General shakes his head, he doesn’t intend to allow his country to die because her President is locked in the bathroom.  He stares at the red handset shaking his head when the alarm screams,
     
    “MISSILE LAUNCH DETECTION. MISSILE LAUNCH DETECTION. Central Russia.”
     
    A tech yells over the alarm, “Russian ICBM launch!”
     
    “Shit! We didn’t hit Moscow; I guess the Russians believe it was us.”
     
    “Sir, the secret service rates the President as mentally unstable, the Vice President was in New York City for the holiday.”
     
    ”If the President won’t return fire, I will. I’m declaring DEFCON 1, we’ve suffered a decapitation, understanding orders, I am issuing orders for a counterstrike mission. I think the first missile we saw was a stupid captain who screwed up the launch order. I’m glad we’re going to fire, their missiles land on empty silos and bases. May God forgive us for our sins.”
     
    His aide rushes the Vice Commander into the room,
     
    “As Vice Commander, I confirm the General’s order. I’m entering my release code. We are at DEFCON 1; release of nuclear weapons has been authorized.”
     
    An alarm sounds in the bunker. The 150-ton doors close, sealing the base from the outside. Air intakes are sealed so radioactive fallout doesn’t enter the facility.
     
    A second alarm sounds in the bunker,
     
    “Sir, launch confirmation, Minuteman missiles are launching.”
     
    “Sir, launch confirmation, Navy, TRIDENT missiles are launching.”
     
    “May God forgive us.”
     
    The Vice Commander looks at his friend and commanding officer,
     
    “Sir, should we sound a national air raid alert?”
     
    “In the ten to thirty minutes they have, the panic will kill more than save. What’s the Russian targets?”
     
    “Counter strike, our Minuteman silos, SSBN bases, Air Force Bomber bases.”
     
    Shaking his head and smiling, “Their missiles are going to land on empty real estate, tell the base commanders they can release their people! We might be able to save some of them.”
     
    “Yes, sir.”
     
    @@@@@
     
    The Catholic Cardinals agree that the current crisis requires them to quickly elect a new Pope, they issue an urgent press release announcing their choice saying the world needs a man who speaks peace, a man who represents God. A man who can bring the current craziness to an end. The Cardinals select Cardinal Koch from Switzerland. Cardinal Koch takes the name of Pope Francis II, honoring his dead friend. Pope Francis II announces he will make the new Holy See in Switzerland, who quickly issues a press release saying they are honored to have the new Holy See located within their border, they agree to set aside land which the Pope will govern as the new Vatican.
     
    Watching Pope Francis II’s press conference, the Caliphate swears vengeance against the new Pope and the new Vatican. They issue a press release saying if Switzerland hosts the new Vatican, the Caliphate promises to attack Switzerland with weapons of mass destruction.
     
    Switzerland surprises the world by

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