General Thomas said as Lambert and the Joint Chiefs sat around the conference table. “We have four hundred and forty sorties over Russia at this moment, thirty-six of which have nuclear weapons locks removed. Most should achieve a release, but some won’t make target and others will abort because of weather minimums or mechanical problems or safe separation violations determined to exist by the controllers, or some other reason.” The President sat erect. He was showered and clean-shaven, and although he couldn’t have had much sleep, Lambert thought that he looked refreshed, invigorated. Lambert told himself it was time for him to do the same. He felt grungy in the suit he had worn for over thirty hours straight, and it affected his disposition. “All right,” the President said, his voice firm and sure, “here are your orders.” He looked at the gathering of generals and the admiral one at a time, and then spoke slowly as several put pens to notepads. “You are to cease all combat operations against the Russians immediately.
