Chapter 25 - Chaos Theory

Director of National Intelligence, David Williams, hung up the phone with his colleague with a terse tone of voice that was taken bitterly by Director of the CIA, Carol Thompson, as the DNI’s motorcade rolled through the gates of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave ahead of his colleague.  The time was 04:24 hundred hours, just over two hours earlier than scheduled for the President’ morning intelligence brief, and the DNI had just exploded with anger towards the  DCIA for the situation at hand.

One after another the eight dark SUVs glowing blue and red by their grill and visor emergency lights entered the compound unimpeded.  The Director of the Secret Service had been informed, en route, that the President was needed for an immediate briefing of national security matters and that the two highest officials within the Intelligence Community were about to arrive early, with urgency.  White House protective forces had been deployed well beyond the ends of Pennsylvania Ave at 15^th and 17^th Streets to allow the high speed motorcades to pass through three barriers of entry into the President’s compound without compromising the perimeter’s security.

The two Directors’ vehicles were taken through the underground garage to provide them with the most expedient route to the intelligence briefing room, eight stories below ground, within the White House nuclear bunker.  Nearly jogging, the two men and their respective Chief’s of Staff were comparing intelligence on the matter at hand. 

Far from collaborating their stories, the two were trying to determine what information they had and could any of it be corroborated.  Several points were clear: two of the country’s most valuable assets were missing after two separate assassinations or attempted assassinations within ten miles of the Nation’s Capital and the residence in which they were now entering.  All available resources within the IC were being deployed to determine the fate of the two and the operational impacts of their loss.  The potential risk to the United States included a complete halt to all ongoing justice, intelligence, and State Department operations. 

National Security Advisor, Sloan Lynch, met the two in stride.  The entire National Security Council was prepared to participate in the coming brief.  Without any pleasantries or greetings, he asked the DNI, “How many rooms do we need?” 

Director Williams replied, “Three.”  “Put the NSC on line in the war room.  I need another for The President, Carol, and I.  No need for others.  SECCOM 3 will do,” he said, referring to secure conference room 3.  “Lastly, I need the rest of the Cabinet online separately and prepared for instructions from the President.”  He added, “Get the Vice President to keep them engaged, but there are no specifics to share at this time other than the FBI bulletin published as we drove through the gates.”

Lynch had read the FBI bulletin.  He also knew far more than cable described.  The crisis unfolding was of epic proportion, and he knew that the unfolding events would have extraordinary impact on all aspects of the U.S. Government.