Last War Read Online Free

sitting here wondering why the people groan so much about ‘more of the same’ every new administration. What if this is wrong? Are we doing our jobs by inheriting a plan? Or should we be starting fresh?” 
         “The main thing we need, right now, is favor from our people. We’re getting that. It’s working.”
         “What?” Harold retorted. “Which country are you looking at? There are protests all over this country. They’re occupying everything and cyber-attacking everyday. In fact, there’s a MyFace page with over 19 million members which is dedicated solely to recreating the revolutionary war against us. So, what? We’re going to wait for another crisis to try to take the opportunity to convince them that they need us while the other growing half continue to think we’re incompetent? No. It’s not the best plan, ever, folks.”
         “Harold.” Grambling raised his voice a bit over a small rustle of voices. “You may want to cool it. We don’t want you taking your stress home to Mrs. Davis, now do we? She wouldn’t be happy. And I want no responsibility in her being unhappy.” His fingertips tapped on the desk again.
         No one made eye contact with either Harold or Grambling after Grambling made that statement. Michael broke the silence. “Let’s get back to the issue. We’ve come a good bit of the way in gathering and sharing intelligence since September 11th. We do have some unrest, and here in the DHS, we’ve been preparing. As we speak, someone may be launching an attack on us; a cyber-attack, possibly. And if so, there’s a good chance we already may be at war. I mean between the hacktivists and underground militia movements we may be in a few of them, now. So, that’s what we need to deal with. We need to know if we’re at war. Zoe, we need your codebreakers. Grambling, Harold, we need cooperation. Let’s focus.”
         President Harris nodded. “I think that’s fair enough. We’ll deal with F.A.I.T.H. when it’s appropriate. If we’re at cyber-war, then we’ll have to adjust the operation, anyway. For now, I’ll take each department’s briefing. Let’s go around the room starting with defense.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    
     
    III
     
    World Trade Center, Building 7
    Tuesday, September 4, 2001
     
         Her delicate voice was one of the wonders of the world. She meant everything to Jason. Everyday she’d call him while he sacrificed a lot of family time to attend to the most important of national situations at work.
         Nothing was like hearing her voice in real life, however. For now, the cellphone calls would have to do.
         “Daddy, guess what?”
         “What’s up, sweet pea?”
         “This time, next week, I’m going to be at your work. We’re having a field trip to The Top of the World!”
         “Oh, wow!”
         “You didn’t know that?”
         “Actually, I did. Mom told me. I figured you’d like it better as a secret to tell me yourself.”
         “Daddy, you’re silly. Hey, class wants to know if we can come by to see you? The teachers say if they can, they’d love to. They say there are a lot of great things in your building.”
         “I don’t know if that’s possible, sweetie, but I sure will check. What time will you be here?”
         “We’re leaving at 7.”  
         “I’ll be sure to see.”
         “OK. I love you daddy.”
         “I love you, too. Go to bed, now.”
         Vanessa was his baby girl. In the cruel and impossible world he had begun to know, she was his peace.
         The secure line on his desk phone purred. He answered.
         “Jason, this is floor 8. Silverstone wants to know if the policies were completed.”
         “For the buildings? Yes. They are. I sent the paperwork off to him just now.” Jason scattered to find the email and forward it to Mr. Barry