The Last Faberge's Midnight Crossing

The continuing search to find the missing Faberge Eggs and stop World War III

January 21

It was just after midnite, some six hours before the rising of the sun. This after all is the morning of inauguration day. A day of rejoicing, the swearing in of a new President, and a new beginning for a country still reeling from the past years economic crisis. They say timing is everything. Well, in this case when when word reached the Pentagon that a Chinese naval destroyer suddenly vanished just proved once again disaster can strike when it is least expected. The last known position was 200 miles due south of Pakistan in the Bay of Bengal. Scrambling to make sense of the matter and the urgency of the situation, the Pentagon immediately notified President Stevens. When the military attache woke the President with the situation thus far the President immediately ordered the 7th Fleet into action, put the military on high alert, and then notified President elect Glover Smith of the actions taken. Perplexing as this situation is when faced by both an out going President and an incoming President it was President-elect Smith that sensed the timing is just too coincidental to believe that something more sinister is behind the disappearance of that Chinese naval destroyer. The immediate dangers facing the world have now been set in motion.

 

Already in the Prussian gulf were the Air Craft carrier group USS Enterprise and the USS Ronald Reagan. Upon orders from President Stevens the USS Ronald Reagan would stay in the Prussian Gulf. This, while the USS Enterprise on it's final tour of duty would race toward the Bay of Bengal to assist the Chinese in search and recovery efforts. Little did anyone realize that a Russian nuclear submarine which had disappeared one month prior was now in the hands of terrorists. It is these terrorists that have in their hands the most destructive weapons and technology ever devised by man. The means to carry out the most horrendous acts of total destruction upon mankind is in their grasp. A reign of terror that would swoop down upon unsuspecting populations was about to unfold and with it the world is about to be thrust into the most horrific catastrophe ever to befall mankind. The sinking of that Chinese naval destroyer was only the beginning. Could Armageddon be far off? A Typhoon class sub with enough nuclear missiles to annihilate the whole eastern hemisphere now has become the means in which Cardinal Sebastian would try to gain control over the world. Global domination in the hands of a ruthless and insane man who would go on to become the next Pope.

 

 Thousands of well wishers gathered outside the Capital braving the sleet that was trying to ruin the day as President-elect Glover Smith took the oath of office. President Stevens congratulated the new President and assured him of total assistance and advise he could give given the enormity of the crisis that just erupted. Not wanting to alert the public on the crisis developing in the Bay of Bengal until all the facts were in President Smith's acceptance speech rallied the public on the economic solutions his new administration would implement the following day. All through that after noon the new President and his Chief of Staff made preparations to secure that the most influential and knowledgeable people not only in foreign policy but in technology and military matters would arrive at Andrews Air Force Base to join the President. A midnite crossing on what is going to be the most important candescent mission a President has ever taken would begin that same evening. It was during the inaugural ball that the secret service swiftly escorted the President out of the George Washington Hotel and into a waiting limo. Just as every one else was enjoying the festivities the President suddenly vanished.

 

January 22nd

Upon takeoff from Andrews Air force base Air force One proceeded due east attaining a cruising speed of 600 mph at an altitude of some 30,000 feet. It was just past 12 AM when President Smith got word from Secret Service Agent Lenny Wilson that a nuclear blast incinerated the heart of the Islam world. Mecca was completely destroyed by what had to be a Hydrogen bomb 10 times more powerful than both atomic bombs that hit Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Immediate casualties unknown but expected to be in the millions.

 

So startling, like getting the wind knocked out of you, a sweeping foreboding silence over came all on board just as Air Force One was half way across the Atlantic. Jolted back to reality Secretary of State Eleanor Whitman quietly leaned over and advised the President to fly directly to Moscow and immediately call President Boris Sadinski. As the President picked up the phone a direct line to the Kremlin opened up. "Mr. President I just confirmed that a nuclear blast hit Mecca. We really need to talk." Upon hearing the news directly from President Smith, Boris Sadinski alerted the Russian Military like the United States military to be at high alert.

 

Meanwhile back in Washington the news of what just took place halfway around the world hadn't been released to the general public. It wasn't going to be until a couple of hours latter that the national media would flood the airways with the horrific news that our world would never be the same again. Could this be the start of the end of man? Many are now convinced that Armageddon is already at our front door. Just then two secret service agents awoke the first lady. Very quickly she gathered up some personal belongings and followed the secret service where The Vice President and his wife were waiting just outside the Oval Office. A sheet of white overtook both ladies upon hearing of the news as they looked outside the window where a new blanket of snow had just covered the White House lawn.

 

January 21st 

At the stroke of midnite in the Vatican Pope Gregory finally breathed his last. At his bedside were Cardinals Sebastian and Leapold along with Bishops Chamberland and Volara. Wasting no time to convene the conclave of Cardinals for the election of a successor to Pope Gregory the urgency of the times now dictated that the very next day all would gather inside the Sistine Chapel to elect  the next Pope. As crowds gathered outside the Vatican awaiting the announcement of who the next Pope would be sheets of freezing rain kept falling. As people gathered around the Vatican to await the proclaiming of the new Pope thousands more gathered to pray out of fear that the world would now be thrown into darkness where the light of hope would be dimmed forever. As people gathered to pray puffs of white smoke billowed out of the smokestack proclaiming a new Pope had been elected. Thousands more now have gathered around the Vatican where the anticipation of who the next Pope would be was growing by the minute. To everyone's astonishment the conclave of Cardinals elected Cardinal Sebastian to succeed Pope Gregory.  Now, Pope Constantine X  has become the leader of the richest and most powerful religious and influential organization in the world.

 

January 22nd

On arriving in Moscow President Smith was immediately greeted by Boris Stadinsky. Both presidents quickly were on their way to the Kremlin when out of nowhere an explosion rocked the racing limo. Secret service agent Lenny Wilson following behind in another limo veered off toward the right just as another blast sent the motorcade escort ahead flying into the air. A calculated assassination attempt on both Presidents failed because of the expertise of the Russian Federal Secret Service agents assigned whose driving abilities executed maneuvers that completely made the chase scene in the movie "Bullet" very mundane. Already, in Kuwait the US special forces are poised to embark to Saudi Arabia. All that was needed is for President Smith to issue the order. 

 

A race against the clock to find out who is behind the attack in Saudi Arabia and the deliberate assassination attempt of both the Russian President and President Glover Smith. When President Boris Stadinsky and President Smith were safe inside the Kremlin both agreed that who ever pushed that nuclear bottom will do so again. Lenny Wilson, now inside the Kremlin is convinced the events of the past 24 hours are all connected. The urgency of Papal succession, the nuclear blast and the assassination attempt all maybe part of a grand scheme. The urgency now is to find out who is behind this and somehow stop the mayhem from escalating. Is time running out? Will the atrocities continue? Will they succeed in the assassination of two Presidents?

 

A fictitious story of possible realities, maybe. Is the United States fully prepared for an eventual nuclear catastrophe? What precautions are needed to prevent a similar scenario?  Though, this story outline may be a little bit farfetched but, none the less global domination by a single person or organization has been attempted before. These questions must be answered and steps now put in place for any contingency. Why? Because the world today is already teetering on the edge of darkness where the devises are at hand that would, if used, would thrust all humanity into a reality very far removed form the advances man has already made. With prudence and malaise toward none humanity must move forward and expand our good fortunes for other generations to come, to enjoy as well.

 

When one person, organization or country sets in motion a nuclear explosion or any other weapon of mass destruction against another country, organization or persons will do so repeatedly. The question all should ask is it worth the price all humanity will pay if an equal or better response just as horrendous as the first is justified? The answer is no. No matter how vindictive we may be to retaliate using the weapons of mass destruction is not justified in any circumstances. The only way out of a murders situation as this is a more devious one than the perpetrators of the original calamity. We have to remember that one use of a weapon of mass destruction is horrendous enough we therefore have to give the illusion of capitulation rather than a retaliatory strike. Using cunning and other calculated means even if they are just as deceitful and devious as those who use weapons of mass destruction is the only way to defuse a nuclear Holocaust from wiping out humanity.