To say that the Black Vice President had no prior knowledge of this attack? Laughable. Of course, he knew. Though he didn't directly participate, he turned a blind eye. After all, he was a member of the Republican Party faction supported by the Roxette organization. If Benjamin Arthur—just two months into his presidency—were to die in this attack, the Vice President would be the immediate successor.
Not only that, but as a new president, he would serve nearly a full four-year term without much opposition, giving him ample time to consolidate power for reelection. In such a scenario, who could realistically challenge him?
So, while he wasn't directly involved in today's White House attack, he was well aware of what was about to happen.
However, his expectations were shattered when, upon reaching the Pentagon's Strategic Command Center, he was greeted not with news of the White House's fall but with reports of a swift response by the President's Secret Service. They had resisted the attack the moment it began, repelling the armed assailants.
Adding to the surprises, an Air Force brigadier general had taken decisive action after learning of an unidentified aircraft breaching Washington's no-fly zone. Taking control of Andrews Air Force Base, the general had detained Colonel Clark for dereliction of duty and deployed F-22 Raptors to intercept and destroy the rogue AC-130 gunship. By sheer luck, the wreckage had landed harmlessly in the Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument, avoiding any civilian casualties.
The Vice President, who had envisioned his rise to the presidency within hours, was utterly dumbfounded.
Hadn't the Roxette organization, Amir Barkawi, and the Japanese intelligence agency assured him this plan was foolproof? How had things gone so wrong?
Being a seasoned politician and master manipulator, it took the Vice President less than three minutes to piece it together: Benjamin had known about the attack all along.
How else could the President's team have responded so precisely and effectively?
The timing was far too convenient. A technical expert accompanied by a brigadier general had just so happened to catch Colonel Clark red-handed, seizing control of Andrews Air Force Base and neutralizing the aerial threat in a textbook operation. This wasn't mere coincidence—it was a trap.
From the Vice President's perspective, Benjamin had orchestrated a "lure the snake out of its hole" operation, simultaneously staging a ruse of victimhood to garner public sympathy. With this, Benjamin could solidify his position, earn nationwide support, and systematically dismantle the Roxette organization.
Since his inauguration in January, Benjamin had already made waves by purging the CIA. Though he still faced significant political opposition, this attack could shift public opinion dramatically in his favor. To the average citizen, the assault on the White House was more egregious than the attacks on the Twin Towers years ago.
While the public might not know the intricacies of Benjamin's preemptive measures, they would see him as a decisive leader who thwarted a grave threat. His approval ratings would soar, and the country's internal divisions would momentarily unite against a common enemy.
For the Vice President, this spelled disaster. With public sentiment on Benjamin's side, any aspirations of seizing power would be futile. Worse yet, Benjamin would likely label the Roxette organization as traitors, and their exposure could taint anyone associated with them—including himself.
The Vice President stood silently in the Strategic Command Center, contemplating how to distance himself from the Roxette organization to save his skin.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Arthur, shielded by his chief protector Michael Banning, had retreated to a secure room within the White House. Unlike the original script of the unfolding drama, he had not descended to the underground bunker. This was partly because the attackers had been stalled by the Secret Service and other guards who had not suffered aerial bombardment.
Steve and Booth, after apprehending the Roxette mole within the Secret Service, had joined the fight. Booth, a skilled tactical sniper and former U.S. Army Ranger, proved deadly against the attackers. His specialty lay in medium-range sniping—distances of 300 to 800 meters—where his proficiency with semi-automatic rifles often surpassed even that of Bob Lee Swagger.
Alongside Booth, former Navy SEAL Major Steve McCrite wreaked havoc in close quarters, making the attackers' advance near-impossible. The defenders, bolstered by the surviving White House security personnel, successfully contained the assault.
From his distant stronghold, Amir Barkawi fumed at the failure of the operation. The Japanese intelligence agency, which had covertly supported the mission, was equally livid. How had such a meticulously planned attack fallen apart so completely?
Members of the Roxette organization were gripped by panic. They knew their role in the attack and understood the consequences if Benjamin survived. Fueled by public support, he would hunt down every last Roxette operative.
To make matters worse, the media had broadcast the attack in real time. Reporters outside the White House, undeterred by flying bullets, live-streamed the chaos on the front lawn. The footage showed militants armed with automatic weapons being repelled by the President's guards—a sight that enraged Roxette's conspirators.
One glaring misstep infuriated them further: Kim Yonkang, the supposed mastermind infiltrating the South Korean delegation, had only managed to take the Prime Minister hostage. Worse still, instead of exploiting his position, he had retreated into the armored limousine, rendering himself useless.
Back in the secure room, Benjamin contacted the Pentagon. Addressing senior military officials, the Speaker of the House, and the Vice President via video call, he wasted no time on explanations. Instead, he issued an order:
"As Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces, I am declaring a national state of emergency, effective immediately."
This constitutional power left no room for opposition. The Speaker and Vice President, seeing Benjamin's fury, dared not challenge him. The order was swiftly executed.
At Andrews Air Force Base, Castle and his associate were equally astonished by Benjamin's bold move. Declaring a national emergency was a monumental step. But as Castle reflected, he realized he had underestimated the man he had helped install as President. Benjamin wasn't just reacting—he was seizing the moment to crush the Roxette organization entirely.
This was more than a response to an attack. It was a masterstroke in political strategy, one that would cement Benjamin's authority and eradicate his enemies in one fell swoop.
(End of Chapter)
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