"Executive Command" Author: Hugo "Animal" Chikamori E-mail: hchikamori@yahoo.com Rating: PG-13 Classification: Webb/Other R; Harm/Mac R; Animal/Meg R Spoilers: None, except whatever comes out of Animal's demented mind... Summary: This takes place in the future. Harm is now JAG. Mac is now head of the Marine Special Investigative Service. A bomb in the Capitol building kills off the entire Line of Succession, and Animal ends up holding the "football". Disclaimers: The characters Harm Rabb, Jr., AJ Chegwidden, et al. belong in concept if not name) to CBS/Bellisarius. No profit is being made from this story, nor is any infringement intended. Characters from Iron Eagle make appearances in this story as do characters from Top Gun. It is not my intention to make some of this appear like Air Force One. The similarities are purely coincidental. All characters belong to the creators of those characters and all rights are reserved by them. Author's Note: Note that I am taking extreme literary and political line of succession LICENCE here. Usually when a joint session of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives meets, at least one of the line of succession to the Office of the President of the United States is asked to be not present. This is so the line of succession will not be broken in the event of a situation such as in this story. Plus as several list-members mentioned, the Office of the President of the United States is limited to those who have were naturally born citizens of the United States. (meaning that they were born somewhere in the Continental US). ************************************************************************* It was a chilly winter afternoon as the cold winter sun half-heartedly warmed the smouldering remains of the Capitol building. Animal could not believe his eyes. His gaze moved from the base of the ruins to the collaps- ed dome of the well-renowned building. Firemen and security officers were swarming the ruins trying to put out the myriad fires and flareups of flames that were engulfing what remained. Smoke was everywhere. Animal grabbed a fireman by his coat. " Jesus Christ, Fireman...What the hell happened?!!!" " No one knows, Sir...Jesus Christ...It just blew up. Windows just blew out and it collapsed. As far as we know, everyone is dead." the fire- man said, just now glancing at the gold braided arm that was grasping his coat. Admiral of the Fleet Hugo Chikamori glared at the fireman. " You're telling me that the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Congress, the President and Vice- President are dead?!!!" " Yes, sir...everyone...sir..." the fireman gasped as Animal gripped him tighter. Then the admiral let him go as the full enormity of that state- ment finally hit home. Animal's wife, Meg and his son and daughter had come out of his car and they were in tears. His five year old daughter hugged his wife and his seven year old son was just about ready to go into hysterics. Animal turned to his family with shocked eyes, still not compre- hending the carnage. He went over to comfort them, when six Secret Service agents, their weapons out and at port-arms, surrounded them. " Sir, we have to get you to safety." Another Secret Service agent shouted into a portable radio, " Jet Jock, Lady Spy, HOCKEY STAR and SHORTSTOP on the move...We have all of them." Animal looked at him as two burly agents surrounded him, forming a human wall around him and his family. " What is going on?" asked Animal, as he was unceremoniously dragged along by two burly Secret Service agents. " Who are you and why are you doing this?" " We're Secret Service, we're detailed to protect the President of the United States. I'm Sanderson, he's McMillan." the tall blonde-haired agent said soberly. Animal could see the five pointed star inside a hollow penta- gon lapel pin of the Secret Service on his black suit coat. He had his Beretta out. Animal's legs turned to water " But, the President is dead...Who's in charge now?" The Secret Service agent looked at Animal as if he were de- lusional. " Mr. President, We have to get you to Air Force One." the agent said as he grabbed Animal's shoulder. " All the people in line to become the President are dead. You are the sole survivor. The Chief Justice will be waiting at Air Force One." Meg looked at him uncomprehendingly as more Secret Service agents joined them to create a human wall as they quickly moved down towards the Plaza towards the waiting Marine SH-60. " Daddy..." little Dana wailed as she reached out beseechingly to her father who enveloped his arms around her and hugged her for dear life. Colonel Jim Stanfield III, the Marine Colonel waiting inside Viper Zero-Three for the entourage to arrive was in a flight suit and flight gear, as was his co-pilot Lieutenant Colonel Mark Everett. As the entourage arrived, Col. Stanfield fingered the radio channel to Washington National Airport open. " Washington National, we have the president on board. Chang- ing callsign from Viper Zero-Three to Marine One." Animal was helped into the aircraft and buckled in. The doors were closed as they took off. " Where is Rear Admiral Burrows assigned." Animal asked. " We don't know, sir...but we'll locate him sir, and find out by the time you reach Air Force One..." said a female Secret Service agent who promptly pulled out a cellular phone and called the Pentagon. " Yes, do that..." Animal said; his first order as the President of the United States. A few minutes later, that Special Agent, Helen D'Angelis, replied,"Sir, we've located Rear Admiral Philip Burrows, sir. He is stationed at NAS Oceana." " Well, then...When we get to Air Force One, let's head for NAS Oceana. I want to talk to him personally..." At the precise moment that he finished that sentence, the Marine SH-60 was landing at Washington National close by a 747-400 with royal blue, gold, white and silver trim, with the words United States of America emblazoned on the side. The American flag and the Presidential Seal were on the aircraft's tail. This was the well-known air- craft Air Force One. There were three of them in the USAF fleet of aircraft. " Thanks for the ride, Colonel." Animal said. " Pretty smooth controls for a gyrene helo. Tell me, Jim...How the hell did I get into a situation like this? I've dreamed of being the President of the United States but never like this...God, how I wish that it could have happened some other way." " Well Mr. President...Admiral..." He acknowledged the Fleet Admiral's uniform. " Even squids have the knack of being in the right place at the wrong time. Now, if you were a Marine, like me, sir..." D'Angelis, now the senior Secret Service Agent specially assigned to protecting the President, mouthed, 'Mother of God..." while the rest of them groaned. " Remember that comment, when I approve your promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General...Colonel..." Animal grinned. " Yes, sir...Mr. President..." Colonel Stanfield grinned as he got out of the helo, after radioing to the waiting presidential jumbo jet, " Marine One, on the ground, Air Force One, waiting to transfer the President." Lt. Col. Everett grinned as well as the two of them stood by their helo, " Good luck, sir." as they saluted. Animal replaced his white admiral 's cap on his head and saluted back. Air Force Colonel David Ackerman greeted the Fleet Admiral, as he and his family walked over to Air Force One, with a crisp military salute. After a moment of staring at the big jet, Animal returned the salute. " Sir, welcome aboard Air Force One." Helen D'Angelis grinned, posessively, already taking command of the situation and protecting her president, stepped in front of Animal...gest- uring back to Animal, she said, " Colonel, this is POTUS, FLOTUS, HOCKEY PLAYER, and SHORTSTOP" she gestured at each member of the new First Family. A new group of Secret Service Agents joined the crowd. An African American Special Agent said to Special Agent D'Angelis, " Let's all get on board and get going. We've got to get Potus to a safe location." S/Agent D'Angelis grinned, " OK, Mr. President, let's get you and your family aboard." Animal and his family made their first tentative steps on board the 747 which transported the President and their entourage from place to place. It would be a long rebuilding process, but he would work hard to make it possible to restore peace, order and democracy to the United States of America. (N.A.S. Oceana) It was a quiet day in the office of the commanding officer of the Naval Air Station at Oceana. Rear Admiral Philip " Metalman" Burrows was working at his desk looking over reports and personnel folders when a harried look- ing female captain came in. He looked up, exasperatedly from his paperwork. " What is it? Captain." U.S. Navy Captain Kelly Lynn Fraser said, "Sir, we have a major prob- lem, sir..." " What happened, Did Airman Lenoski fall into the toilet for the ump- teenth time?" Metalman snorted. " No, sir..." was the response " Well, then...WHAT?!!!" R/Adm. Burrows growled ominously. Capt. Fraser, grinned " Sir, it's Air Force One, sir...they want to land at our base...and what's more, the President of the United States has asked for your presence aboard Air Force One." Metalman's face showed surprise. " Boy, Animal's going to love this." Metalman grinned evilly as he contemplated the presidential order. Poor Animal, stuck in Washington, while he ended up traipsing the world with the President of the United States. Sometimes, life could work out really great. " I knew it. Maybe my luck is going to change...This could be the fast track to CNO's position. Man, Animal is going to weep at this choice assignment." He looked forward to breaking the news to Fleet Admiral Hugo "Animal" Chikamori. He dialed Animal's phone number at the Pentagon. When Animal's answering service came on, " Hello, this is Fleet Admiral Chikamori at the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Unfor- tunately, I am either at a meeting or temporarily out of my office. Please leave a message or contact ComSec. Thanks." Metalman grumbled, " Geez... He's never there..." (aboard Air Force One, high above West Virginia) Fleet Admiral, or as he was now known, President of the United States, Hugo Chikamori was in his suite, changing from the Fleet Admiral's uniform into a form-fitted grey suit that looked more presidential than the uniform that he had been wearing. Meg looked at him. " I can't believe this. Tell me this isn't happening, is it?" she said as she leaned against him, sadly wrapping her arms around him. " Yeah, there goes any of our private life." Animal muttered. There was a knock on their cabin door. " Who is it?!!!" he barked, still not used to being addressed as Mr. President. " Mr. President, It's Colonel Mitchell, U.S. Army. sir...we have a meeting in five minutes. We have to figure out what to do next..." By this time, Animal was wishing that he had his old F-14 Tomcat back. He sighed and opened the door to the cabin. " Hi," Animal grinned self- conciously. The Army Colonel grinned in return, " Well, Mr. President, are you ready to go for the meeting?" " Yeah, I guess so..." Animal muttered reluctantly. " How long til we reach NAS Oceana..." " Should be there within this hour, sir. Since we lifted off 25 min- utes ago, it should be about 27 minutes later." the Colonel said. Animal tightened up his tie and straightened his suit jacket, and fol- lowed the Colonel out the door. As they walked along, Animal muttered, "God this plane is posh..." " Yes, Mr. President, nothing but the best for the leader of the most powerful country in the world." the Army Colonel grinned. The remaining high-ranking officers stood up as the young forty-ish Chief Executive walked into the meeting room onboard the jumbo jet. Animal had a small gold navy wings lapel pin on the left lapel of his suit jacket. " Mr. President, do you have an idea on how we're going to re-construct the government. We've been dealt a very serious blow. We are going to have to re-select the Senate and..." " Gentlemen..." Animal said with conviction, "We have a situation which is very delicate. The United States people have to understand that we are in control. It's a very scared public. All that they've seen are shots of the demolished Capitol building. All they know is that the President Jackson is dead as well as the entire government in shambles. We have to pick up every piece and fit them back together as best we know how." Animal reiterated, "Gentlemen, we have a job, and by God, we're going to do it. We will not bend from this flagrant attack by terrorists, claiming to be righ- teous patriots. Terror is not a tool that can be used to pursue justice. It is wrong, it has always been wrong. I will not tolerate terror as a means of achieving one's goals. If people will stoop to terrorism to get what they want, the United States will fight back with every possible means to make certain that the perpetrators of this form of injustice get the justice that they deserve. Utter annihilation. Gentlemen, we will declare war on terror- ism now. That is clear policy. Any questions?" All the military personnel in the meeting room rose to their feet and started clapping. " Shit..." Animal muttered, " I take it that I have to give up my commission?" he asked. " No, sir," replied a 4 star admiral, Fletcher Conway. " You are on TDY. You are the head of all the military forces of the United States of America. Sir, you are more than a politician. You've won the Congressional Medal of Honor, you are a war-hero, and you are a consummate naval officer. But now, sir, you are more than a Navy Hero, now sir, you represent the United States of America. When you travel outside the United States, you are the United States." "So, anything happening on the investigation front as to who planned this attack?" Animal said looking grimly at the Admiral. "No, sir..." "Well, what are you waiting for...Get the Pentagon on it! Now..." Animal growled. Admiral Conway grinned, " Yes, sir..." An Air Force Major stepped into the meeting room, " We've landed at NAS Oceana, sir." (Rear Admiral Burrow's office) " Sir..." A yeoman came into Metalman's office and stood at attention ..." Sir?" " Yeah...what is it...I'm reading my damn comics...can't it wait?" was Metalman's irritated response. " Sir." the yeoman looked rather mystified. " Air Force One has just landed...the President is requesting your presence aboard the aircraft, sir. You're in khakis, sir...I believe that the dress code is dress blues, sir ..." " Damn it...Henson...I know that..." RAdm. Burrows growled..." Now get the hell out of my office while I go and find my damned uniform." " Yes, sir..." AM 1st Class Henson said as he hightailed it out of the irritated rear admiral's office. " Geez, if I don't get babied from my mother, now my damned yeoman is doing it..." grumbled Metalman. (Aboard Air Force One) Animal was sitting at the big oak desk looking over some briefs on current events, when his wife came up to him." Honey...how are you coping? You look frazzled..." The two children were in their quarters on board the aircraft. Meg sighed as she ran her finger through her husband's hair. There were a few grey streaks running through that thick, rich, black hair of his. She massaged his shoulders as he leaned back in his chair. " Yeah...I guess everything happened all at once..." Animal responded. "Geez, I'm just a Fleet Admiral...I'm not equipped to handle this..." " Look sweetheart..." Meg replied wrapping her arms around him. "You 've got your family behind you, and you've got me...always. I love you..." " I love you too..." Animal said as he kissed his wife. Special Agent D'Angelis was standing just inside the door, trying to make herself incon- spicuous. There were two other agents on the other side of the door. The wall was made of bulletproof composite materials as was the door. The en- tire aircraft was pretty much impregnable. It was even sealed airtight in case of nuclear war. Depending on the proximity of the aircraft to ground- zero of a nuclear weapon going off, the aircraft would be able to survive. Naturally if an aircraft was at ground zero, the aircraft and all occupants would be vaporized. All systems were EMP-shielded. And the Electronic Countermeasures with a missile being fired at the aircraft would throw the auto-pilot out and enable the aircraft to maneuver much like a fighter to avoid being hit by such. This was the aircraft that would transport the President of the United States to destinations all over the world. Special Agent D'Angelis watched her principal affectionate with his wife and smiled. This was a couple deeply in love. Meg Chikamori, or other- wise known as FLOTUS was a strong woman, caucasian, blonde, beautiful. Almost similar to D'Angelis in such a way that the resemblance was striking. They would probably be confused for sisters or quite possibly each other. It had to be hard on this couple, after all...just this morning, the two were getting up just like any normal citizen of the USA and by late after- noon of the same day, catapulted into the public eye by circumstances beyond their control. All the special agents senior to Helen D'Angelis had died in the blast. Helen tried not to think about how her situation had pretty much mirrored that of the new First Family. Being Senior Special Agent made her the agent detailed to protect POTUS, who was, to her, a pretty nice guy. Her brother was in the navy and was now a captain, who had just been frocked for his first star, and Helen had a soft spot in her heart for all Navy servicemen, and, especially, for the former Fleet Admiral, who now was some- what confused, frightened and still trying to get his bearings on his new position. Helen was also detailed to protect his life with her own, basic- ally be a bullet stopper, but she didn't dwell on those prospects. Senior Special Agent Helen D'Angelis was a 5 foot, eleven inch tall blonde, pretty and at first glance, would probably be mistaken for the First Lady. D'Angelis was half-Italian and half-French-American. She was a champ- ion shooter and placed well into the top ten of all shooters during pistol qualifications. After 15 years of tracking down and apprehending murderers in the Chicago Police Department, homicide division, she had applied to the Secret Service and was accepted. Her reverie was stopped by Special Agent Wilfred Jones, an Black American Secret Service agent assigned to the Detail," Rear Admiral Philip Burrows is here to see Jet Jock..." " OK...Jet Jock is having a private conversation..." Helen said quietly in a whisper..." with Lady Spy, tell him to wait a few moments." " Understood...will do..." was Special Agent Jones' reply. (Rear Admiral Burrows) Metalman, now dressed in his customary blues, the one thin stripe above the one thick stripe, gleaming. He grinned as he stepped out across the tarmac towards the presidential 747 which was being guarded by a crew of Marines with M-16A2s. He thought to himself, ' I wonder what President Jack- son wanted with me anyways...Maybe I'm getting a promotion, and a reassign- ment somewhere...whatever it is, it's pretty good...and it's fine with me ..." As he got closer, he heard a few bolts click back, that's rather un- comfortable...then he was stopped by a Marine Gunnery Sergeant holding a clipboard " Name, sir?" the gunnery sergeant asked brusquely without even look- ing at him. " Rear Admiral Philip John Burrows, Gunny, to see President Jackson." the gunny checked his noteboard to see if the name was there as it was being spoken and at the name of the late president, he looked up kind of startled. " Uh...sir, you haven't heard the news?" This pricked up Metalman's attention... " What news?" he asked. " Uh...well, sir...you'll find out soon enough...step this way for an identity check..." the Gunnery Sergeant motioned him over to a computer with a touch screen, which identified his thumbprint. Once that was through, he walked through a metal-detector which fortunately for him did not go off. He thought to himself...'ah, Animal is going to whimper at this news when he receives it...I got to actually meet the President of the United States for a second time...heck...Animal's never even been this far through a security check. Animal's gonna whimper at my next letter...heh heh heh... I'm actually being invited aboard the aircraft with the most tight security in the world; the ultimate opportunity...coming my way...maybe Animal is being booted from the position of the CNO...I bet that post is finally going to come my direction. After years of being subordinate to Animal...justice is finally coming my way. Fate is smiling upon me...the guy with the most influence in the Navy is the guy with the ear of the president. And that will be me...' Metalman smiled indulgently to himself. " OK, sir..." the Gunnery Sergeant said, interrupting Metalman's reverie. " Step this way...we'll be going on board..." Two corporals, armed to the teeth with Heckler & Koch submachine guns stepped beside him, one on either side. Together they walked to the staircase. There a Secret Service agent grinned," Well, Metalman, glad to see you..." It was Wild Willy Jones. " My god, Wild Willy...what in hell are you doing here? I thought you retired?" Metalman said, clasping Willy by the hand and shaking it... "Man, did you get tired of sitting around the house, eating watermelons and corn on the cob?" They both turned to go up the steps leading to the open door- way of the presidential 747. "Ha ha...yeah right...you pompous jerk...You're only half-right...I got tired of eating watermelon..." he grinned," Anyhow I thought I'd try out for Detail and with my exemplary military record, on the account of your friend here, I got an excellent hire-me from the Fleet Admiral here...now I been on Detail for three years now...lovin' every minute of it...Been pro- tecting the Fleet Admiral for the past year since he became one of the IN- LINE..." " So, you mean Animal's here too?" Metalman's countenance looked like he had swallowed a mouthful of needles, because he looked pained...and Wild Willy (Special Agent Jones) just about started laughing. " Of course, Animal is here..." by now, they had entered the aircraft and were moving to the room just opposite the Presidential suite...by a long corridor, " He's one of the VIPs in this jet." Special Agent Jones grinned as he with-held the information that Animal was indeed the new President. OK...it was cruel but Wild Willy had a nasty little streak in him which liked seeing Metalman cringe. " OK, sit here a few minutes...and I'll let Special Agent D'Angelis know that you're here...and she'll inform the President..." Wild Willy was having a hard time keeping from cracking up. What seemed to be a few minutes was actually about fifteen minutes... and Metalman was starting to get kind of annoyed. A pretty Special Agent came striding down the hallway from the location of the Presidential suite. At first she looked a lot like Animal's wife and Metalman did a double-take. Woah...she's cute...but she looked as if her veins ran with ice water. She was definitely not the friendly type when it came to other people other than the President. Senior Special Agent D'Angelis looked down at the Rear Admiral. She quickly appraised him, tall, lanky...probably a little too enthused with himself..." Rear Admiral Burrows?" " Yes, that's me..." Metalman replied with a big grin. "The one, the only..." Special Agent D'Angelis rolled her eyes...A bit full of himself... Jesus Christ...why the hell do I get all the egotistical types...My principal is the only one who's normal. " Please follow me, Admiral...the President will see you now..." she turned and walked away, implicitly ordering Metalman to follow. As they passed, Metalman could see the Secret Service personnel assigned to Air Force One eyeing him suspiciously and ner- vously holding their right hands close to their left lapel of their suit jackets, where one presumed they kept their weapons. It was a chilly re- ception and Metalman was getting genuinely nervous so he tried to follow the ice-lady. Finally he became so nervous that he decided to crack a joke. " Gee, I didn't know that I could make such an impression on people ...but really, I'm here to see President Jackson on his special orders upon presidential request...These guys really should chill...y'know...relax?" Metalman grinned slyly. Special Agent D'Angelis turned around suddenly and stopped. She hissed," We're not here for your amusement, Admiral...We're here for the protection of the President of the United States...Is that under- stood?" " OK, OK...geez..." Metalman raised both hands, palm outward as if to ward off an attack..."Touchy..." Wow, this one must be a handful. I feel sorry for this one's husband...if she's got one...