DECEMBER 16, 2019:North American Aerospace Defense Command(NORAD), Colorado
Commander-In-Chief of NORAD, General Peter Waltz walks slowly past rows of high-tech radar stations, communication consoles, and video display screens. None of his controllers look up as he passes, each man and woman completely focused on their station, their overwrought nerves fuelled by a mixture of caffeine and adrenaline.
Waltz registers a tightness in his gut as he stares at the monitor flashing DEFCON-1.The Defense Readiness Condition is a military posture ranging from The day-to-day peacetime preparedness of DEFCON-5 all The way up to DEFCON-1, a condition equating to an all-out nuclear assault.
The Global Shield had been initiated. In less than five minutes the first missiles would strike causing WWIII in the process. A nuclear war. A nuclear winter. The end of mankind's species.
RAVEN ROCK UNDERGROUND COMMAND CENTRE, MARYLAND
President Oliver Temple, sleeves rolled up, is sweating profusely, despite the heavy air-conditioning. Situated along one wall of his soundproof office is a series of video-communicators linking the Command Centre directly to STRATCOM command. Temple looks away from the image of the General as he finishes reciting his nuclear launch codes to the commander, yielding his screen to his Secretary of Defense.
The president moves out from behind his desk and collapses onto the leather sofa, staring at the overhead monitor, watching helplessly as the computer graphics tick down the final historical minutes of the United States of America.
This isn't happening. This can't be happening. God, please let me wake up in bed with my wife...
Temple presses the intercom for the ninth time in the last the last six minutes. "Secretary?"
"Sir, I'm still trying. The aides to the Russian president swears they''ve put the call through, but the president still refuses to speak to you."
"Keep trying."
An ashen faced Secretary of Defense, Tim Morelli turns away from the video monitor. Well, sir, our birds are in the air. Maybe that will bring the Russian president to the phone."
"How soon?"
"Our SLBM's will hit Moscow and Beijing two minutes after the coalition strike."
"You mean, two minutes after every major city on the east and west coasts of the United States is wiped off the face of the map." Temple leaned forward, his upper body trembling. "All our preparation, all our treaties, all our technology...what the fuck happened? Where did we go wrong?"
"Oliver, we didn't push tthe button, they did."
Temple stands. His ulcer on fire."Yes, and because of two buttons the world is going to end tonight."
Dear God, Help me..
The Secretary of Defense turns to the President of the United States of America, salutes him and says,"If the Russians and the Chinese are not going to self-destruct their missiles, then GOD HELPS US ALL."
The Raven Rock computer says in its annoying female voice but chillingly,"90 seconds to impact."
YOU ARE READING
The End Is Here
Short Story"Oh shit."Major screamed at aide. "Get me the freakin' president. The Russians, Chinese,... They've all launched their nukes." The Russians, Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans have all launched their nuclear weapons. 73% of the world's nuclear power i...
