This response took longer.
Two minutes of silence while whoever sat at the top of this chain considered their options. When it came, it was brief:
ACKNOWLEDGED
AUTHORIZATION GRANTED FOR TERMINAL SOLUTIONS
PRIORITY: PREVENT TARGET TESTIMONY
SECONDARY: ELIMINATE WITNESSES
NO EXPOSURE. NO TRACES.
The person in the darkened office stared at the screen for a long moment.
Terminal solutions.
That was the euphemism they used. Clean language for dirty work.
But it didn't matter what words they used. The meaning was clear.
Kill them all.
Make it appear to be an accident, if possible. If not possible, ensure that no one is left to tell the story.
The final message went out to multiple recipients simultaneously, a coordinated activation of assets across the New York metropolitan area:
CONDITION RED
TARGET INBOUND TO MANHATTAN PRESBYTERIAN
AUTHORIZATION: TERMINAL
TIMING: DISCRETIONARY
METHOD: CLEAN IF POSSIBLE – CERTAIN IF NOT
CONFIRM RECEIPT
