"Gentlemen, we can no longer afford to hesitate. The President is still inside the White House and could be in mortal danger at any moment. Yes, there's an agent protecting him, but open your eyes—look at who's taken over the White House. Look at their records. These aren't amateurs—they're elite warriors, killing machines trained by our own government. Do you really think any of them are less capable than that lone agent? We need to be realistic. No one wants the President harmed—he's our President. But we must prepare for the worst..."
In a conference room at the Capitol, the Senate had convened not long after the crisis began. The Vice President, as Senate President, was at the Pentagon overseeing operations, but everyone else was present.
Now, a politician in his forties stood at the podium, presenting a radical—but not unreasonable—proposal. The U.S. Constitution included the Twenty-Fifth Amendment specifically for extraordinary circumstances, though it had rarely, if ever, been fully enacted.
The speaker wasn't an ally of the Vice President, but he saw a golden political opportunity. Whoever moved first to propose a transfer of power would gain enormous political capital. He didn't mind giving the Vice President a boost—after all, if the VP became President, this move could earn him a piece of the spoils down the line.
"But the President hasn't been confirmed as incapacitated. That doesn't meet the requirements of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment," someone interjected.
But the middle-aged politician immediately cut him off. "You may be right—but who can prove it? Yes, we can't confirm that the President is in enemy hands. But we also can't confirm that he's safe. Remember, everything we've heard has come from that lone agent. We haven't heard a single word from the President himself. Are you really willing to place the fate of America—and the entire world—in the hands of one anonymous, low-level agent?"
Silence fell. Each senator harbored personal agendas, but none could ignore the larger danger. Compared to the potential catastrophe, personal gain meant nothing. No one would be foolish enough to prioritize self-interest when the future of the nation—and the world—was at stake.
Some made up their minds. Others were still wavering. The middle-aged senator sensed the moment and raised his hand.
"The Constitution is clear: in the event the President is removed, dies, or resigns, the Vice President shall assume the office. Right now, President Palmer's status is unknown. The White House is under terrorist control. The nuclear launch codes may already be compromised. I propose we invoke the Twenty-Fifth Amendment immediately. I, Howard Schneider, hereby vote in favor of the Vice President assuming the presidency."
He raised his hand and stood tall, surveying the chamber calmly.
"I agree with Howard," another white senator added after a moment. "America needs stability. Any uncertainty is a risk. If President Palmer were confirmed to be alive and safe, I'd stand with him without hesitation. But we don't have that assurance. So, I support this motion."
He raised his hand, and others soon followed. Second. Third. The tide had turned.
A smile crept across Howard Schneider's face. He was one step closer to victory. The others weren't merely following—they were accepting the inevitable.
In the end, over two-thirds voted in favor. The motion passed. After official confirmation by government staff, the procedural wheels began to turn at top speed. From a constitutional standpoint, David Palmer would cease to be President in less than thirty minutes.
…
At the Pentagon, all remained calm—for now. The decision from Congress hadn't yet reached them. Even after a vote, the transition wasn't instantaneous. There were checks, verification steps, and formal protocols, especially for something as significant as a presidential transfer.
Vice President Lafferson appeared oblivious to what was unfolding in Congress. He was still anxiously engaged in high-level meetings. Present were the heads of the CIA, FBI, Secret Service (with Carol now in command), military leaders from all branches, emergency response experts, and international affairs specialists.
The White House siege wasn't just a domestic crisis—it was a global one. The implications stretched far beyond a simple terrorist attack.
The group behind the takeover was White Mask. Did they have ties to foreign powers? Russia? Were other nations involved? These questions had to be addressed.
The economic fallout was already severe. Wall Street was crashing. The moment the White House occupation was confirmed, stock prices began to plummet. Investors were dumping shares in a frenzy—eerily reminiscent of 9/11.
In some ways, this attack was even worse. America's most powerful symbol—its seat of government—had been seized by terrorists. No matter how the U.S. tried to spin it, public faith was shaken.
There were also diplomatic ramifications. Allies were expressing concern, some more subtly than others. If even America couldn't protect itself, how could it protect its allies? While the smaller nations' worries could be managed, the real issue was with other nuclear powers.
Right now, the entire world was on edge. The five nuclear-armed permanent UN Security Council members were all on high alert. Though no hard intel yet suggested things had escalated to a critical level, neither the U.S. nor the terrorists could be trusted near nuclear buttons. A single misstep could unleash armageddon.
The CIA was running at full throttle. They were willing to risk exposing operatives to get real-time updates on nuclear nations' troop movements, security protocols, and any anomalies near missile bases. All data was being collected, analyzed, and placed on Pentagon desks.
With the President missing, the burden of all decisions now fell to Vice President Lafferson. The pressure was immense—but he was reveling in it. He wasn't President yet, but he was effectively the most powerful man in America.
There were dozens of critical decisions to make every minute. Lafferson basked in the control, even as he feigned being overwhelmed. He occasionally massaged his temples, but the way he kept checking his pager gave away his true excitement.
…
Elsewhere, shortly after the Twenty-Fifth Amendment passed in Congress, Avril—watching the news in a safehouse—received a call. She listened silently, murmured a few affirmatives, then hung up.
A smile spread across her face. She turned to Zheng Anshun and said sweetly, "Darling, we're about to succeed. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment just passed. We're one step closer to victory."
(End of Chapter)
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