“Entering 1-3-7,” Teddy said as he tapped the computer keyboard.
The countdown timer stopped with one second remaining.
A different screen opened.
On the screen projected on the wall were the words: ?????????????????? ??????? ??????????????.
All eyes shifted to Halston.
“Launch sequencedeactivated,” she said. “Translated exactly—the startup sequence is disabled.”
A loud, collective sigh filled the room.
Gabriel shifted from Dustin to Teddy, then Halston, and a smile filled his face. “Nice work.”
“Brilliant thinking,” said Dustin. “Definitely outside the box.”
“That’s my brother,” Teddy said with a grin. “A man of action and one step ahead.”
The room exploded in robust applause.
As the people in the room started congratulating them, the President held up his hand. “Not so fast. This isn’t over, not for us. We’re moving forward with Project Retaliation Darkness.”
Gabriel had gotten in the middle of something that was well outside his wheelhouse. His efforts and knowledge had been put to the ultimate test. As with everything he did, he gave one hundred percent. And his efforts had paid off.
That was intense.
“Mr. President, I’d like to offer a comment,” Gabriel said.
“Go ahead, Mr. Santini,” said the President.
“I’m all about revenge and retaliation,” Gabriel began. “It’s built into my DNA. It’s what I know, what I do best. My job here is finished, but I’d like to suggest you consider letting this one go. Throwing them in darkness isn’t going to mend the political divide. We were almost thrust into a nuclear war that would have had cataclysmic consequences.” He glanced around. “I loved the opportunity to work with my brothers and future sisters-in-law, and with the Devereuxes—especially the privilege of working with Halston. I’m all about power and winning, but this situation makes me reconsider even my own agenda.”
“You don’t mean that,” Teddy said. “You’re just sleep deprived, brother. If those Bratva were to place one toe in your territory?—”
“You’d cut off their entire foot,” Greystone replied.
The folks around the table laughed. Perhaps nervous laughter, perhaps a release of energy from the impending catastrophe.
Gabriel stood. “I’m leaving the political agenda to the pros.” He glanced around the room. “It was an honor working with you.”
“G,” Greystone said, “How’d you know about those codes?”
“Teddy’s not the only one who reads.” One wink, before he regarded Halston. “You sticking around?”
“Not up to me,” she replied.
“Let’s take a fifteen-minute recess,” said the President. “We’ll have breakfast brought in, then review what just happened, and develop a plan to destroy those EMP satellites, still in orbit. The code is still under Russian control. There can benochance anyone—from any country—starts the launch sequence again at any point in the future.”
“Teddy, you got this?” Gabriel asked.
Teddy’s fingers were flying over the keyboard. “Already on it, Mr. President.”
“You really do have the best of the best,” Gabriel said to the President.
As Teddy continued working, he smiled. “I’m writing code to hack into the satellite system, steal the codes, then erase them. Once I’m finished writing it—but before I activate—your team can review and verify my work.”
“Thank you, Teddy,” said the President as he made his way over to Gabriel, extended his hand “Gabriel, we are both men of action. Both addicted to power. I can appreciate where you’re coming from.”