Sample 2
President Stanford stood immediately and looked directly at his counterpart from France.
“Mr. President, when are your countrymen going to learn? You cannot disregard evil. Feeding evil appeasement only makes it grow beyond your ability to survive in its presence. If you’ll excuse me, other matters vital to our citizens’ wellbeing require my attention. I ask you to reconsider your position and stand with the United States.”
The President of France stood and shook President Stanford’s hand. “What about the traditional photographs after our meeting.”
President Stanford looked at the French President. “I’m sorry sir, when there is some basis for agreement and resolution of our differences, I’ll be glad to declare that publicly with you. I’ll have one of my staff members escort you back to your car.”
The President of France stood there dumbfounded as President Stanford left the Oval Office with his Chief of Staff.
“What’s up Bill?”
“We have a problem, Mr. President concerning a B-2 bomber training mission. The news is about a half an hour old and requires a tough decision on your part,” O’Brian said as they entered the Situation Room.
“Okay, let’s have it,” the President said as he entered the room and noticed Air Force General Jerome Hillman, turning a speakerphone in his direction.”
“Go ahead General. Like you said time is a critical factor here,” O’Brian said.
“Mr. President, four of our Whiteman based B-2 bombers are on a training mission. We took a call from our Commander of the Lakenheath Air Base in the United Kingdom. Of the eight crewmen flying the four B-2 bombers seven of the eight crewmembers are seriously ill and incapable of flying safely.”
“Where are they now?”
“Just west of Ireland, sir. Captain Kevin Anderson is the remaining healthy crewmember. We’ve got him on the speakerphone.”
The President leaned forward toward the speakerphone. "Captain Anderson, this is the President speaking. Can you hear me?”
“Yes, Mr. President,” Anderson said.
“Are you able to talk with any of the personnel flying on this mission at the moment, any change in their health that you can report?”
“No sir. Major Michael Calavani is my Aircraft Commander, right now, his arms are extended, actually rigid, and he’s not responding to me when I talk to him. I can’t see the others, but I’m sure they’re the same. No one is talking Mr. President. That much I know for sure.”
“What about the aircraft, any sign of trouble?”
“No sir. We’re on course for the mission and will be entering European airspace in about an hour. Fuel consumption is nominal here, I’m assuming it’s the same on the other bombers.”
“Given the amount of fuel you’re carrying, how much longer can your plane stay aloft?”
“We were supposed to land at Ramstein in Germany, that’s an hour and a half away now. My computer says we can go another three hours beyond that. At our present speed that’s about eighteen hundred miles sir.”
“Captain, is there anyway that you know of that we can land a B-2 bomber remotely, without the help of an onboard pilot?”
“No sir.”