LifeShield

President Installation

General Stephens paces, agitation showing with each stomp. "She's completely flouting your authority, sir."

The president frowns as he leans back. Around him, the tactical displays are dark. The thick carpet around the conference table, while worn from use, absorbs the aggressive footfalls.

"Don't think I'm not annoyed. But she's wily. The NYPD move was brilliant. If I ride in there now, the public would scream military takeover. Your take, Rich?"

The CIA Director is the only other person in the room. "I agree. France and England confirm they are getting LifeShield units tomorrow. We don't believe any other military has possession yet, but with the sheer number of international meetings their CEO is having, I'd say it's just a matter of time. We can't ignore the possibility of military takeovers of civilian units either."

General Stephens stops, "Meaning for a few days at least, we have a unique military advantage. We should consider—"

"I'm not saying we won't," the president says. "But the price had better be worth the inevitable escalation of conflicts."

"Already inevitable." Rich taps his fingers on the table. "China's certain to try something. Russia, doubt it, too much turmoil while everyone grabs for power."

"So you're suggesting?"

"Controlling availability is already lost. It's out there, and everyone's willing to pay through the nose to get theirs. If there's any advantage, it's long term control. Say a flaw in the system that lets China disable our units."

New frown lines add to the existing ones on the president's face. "You're working on that, I assume?"

"Starting to. If we screw up a LifeShield maker fiddling with it, we lose our advantage. Trying one tonight after all the key personnel cycle through. And I have a team scheduled to get a LifeShield this afternoon to probe that angle for weaknesses."

The president nods, "Good."

Rich continues, "If we were to leverage our brief advantage, I believe the key target would be Pocket Error."

"The Shanghai base."

"Right. Their central hacker base. Neutralize their ability to take control of the system. They'll recovery, but it'd give us the strategic advantage. Six months to a year. Enough that they'll be hard pressed to catch up."

Leaning back, the president ponders, "Casualties?"

"Minimal. Target the infrastructure. Blow their systems and get out."

"How soon?"

General Stephen says, "We'll have an operational plan by tomorrow morning at the latest. A strike team is going through the second unit now, and can be in place within 24 hours."

"Set up a briefing for the morning, and I'll decide then."

"Very well."

With a chunk, one of the heavy doors open and two solid men in suits step in. Their eyes scan the room before settling on the president. The one with short-cropped, black hair speaks. "All done, sir. They're ready for you."

The president snorts, with a faint grin as he looks up at the familiar agents. After two years in office, he can sometimes read even what they're not saying. He asks, "So which one of you tried it?"

"I did, sir." The same one responds in the same calm voice. "Before Joel got his. Full thirteen rounds, center mass. Vest would have stopped it, but that's still more excitement than I like in one day.

Joel chimes in, "Throws an odd ricochet that we'll have to account for, but it works."

"We'll feel a lot better once you get yours, sir," Domenic adds.

"Then I'd better not keep you waiting."