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Her voice trailed off. She closed her mouth, licked her lips. She gathered herself, continued.

“If we intervene, Russia could interpret that as an act of war. America is in dire straits — we can’t risk doing anything that would put our troops in conflict, and we cannot risk nuclear weapons being launched at our sh.o.r.es. Russia has the right to defend herself.”

Vogel slumped back into his chair. He was stunned, just like most of the people in the room, just like Murray. Wasn’t the president of the United States supposed to be able to reach out and stop injustice?

And yet, Murray knew Blackmon was making the right call. If the USA stuck her nose in the middle of this fight, the next mushroom cloud might rise over Miami, Seattle, Phoenix … any number of American treasures. Blackmon had no choice other than to make sure Russia didn’t see the United States as an enemy.

Admiral Porter cleared his throat. “Madam President, if I may offer a suggestion?”

She waved her hand inward: go ahead.

“We think the Chinese nuke was launched by a rogue element,” Porter said. “However, it is also very possible that the government was testing Russia, seeing if the infection had impacted Russia’s ability to respond to attack.”

“Russia’s ability has not been affected,” Blackmon said. “Which the Chinese are about to find out firsthand.”

Admiral Porter nodded. “Of course. But, if China actually was testing Russian resolve, their next test could be against us. We need to prepare our own retaliatory response. The Chinese — or whoever is running things there — will see us preparing for launch. They’ll know the United States is ready to hit back.”

Three nuclear powers at play, inches away from an all-out exchange. If Murray had wondered how things could get any worse, now he knew.

Vogel knocked twice on the table. “Porter is right,” he said. “The Chinese will see us preparing. So will the Russians, just in case they get any bright ideas while they’re lobbing nukes into China.”

Murray shook his head. “Are you warmongering a.s.sholes really this obtuse? You want to make things worse by spinning up our birds?”

The admiral glared at him. Vogel chose to look elsewhere.

The president raised a finger. “Director Longworth, let’s keep this civil.”

“Sorry, Madam President.”

She turned back to Porter.