It has been many years since he moved to this mansion, and he is still not used to it.The sleep is extremely light every night, and it should not be just because of getting older.Gregory S. Vance was awakened, as usual, by the ringing of the telephone after a period of time that was far from deep sleep but merely unconscious. After a brief conversation with the operator, he stayed in bed for a while, enjoying the precious time not to be disturbed by anything.Then he got up slowly, raised his arms high, stretched himself, opened his mouth as wide as possible and yawned.He turned the water down, took a shower to clear his head, and changed into the suit his wife had prepared.

In the dining room, my wife and two daughters are having breakfast.The daughters were in a bad mood because they were forced to get up, and they complained a lot about the school, which Vance aptly echoed, really just went in one ear and out the other.Even though he cared much less for his family, his wife didn't complain as much as she used to.Perhaps this is one of the privileges that Vance has earned after a long battle. The mansion doubles as an office space, and as soon as you enter the corridor, it becomes a public space.Vance took the forty-pound suitcase out of the room at his feet.This suitcase is commonly known as "nuclear football". As the name suggests, there are very dangerous things in the suitcase. If you use it carelessly, it can wipe out human beings.Vance had to use it if he was going to order a nuclear attack.

"Good morning, Mr. President." Lieutenant Commander Samuel Gibson, who had been called beforehand, stepped forward.He is one of the "clean Americans" who have passed a thorough net worth check. "Good morning, Sam." The lieutenant colonel took the suitcase and handcuffed the handle of the suitcase to his own wrists.Vance walked down the stairs with him, joined the Secret Service bodyguards, and walked toward the West Wing.En route, the president was met by an NSA agent who was handed a small plastic card.This card has a nickname, called "biscuit".Randomly generated nuclear missile launch codes are printed on the surface of the card. Entering these random codes with the keyboard embedded in the "nuclear football" means that the president has issued an order for a nuclear attack.Vance put the card in his wallet and inside his coat pocket.

Through the windows of the President's Office, you can see the rose garden bathed in the morning light.Vance waited for the members of the President's daily meeting to show up.Soon, the vice president, the chief of staff to the president, advisers to the National Security Council, the director of national intelligence, the director of the CIA, and others were allowed into the office. Everyone sat down and said good morning to each other.The president noticed that there was one more person among the visitors.This person is a white man in his fifties in the last seat - Dr. Melwayne Gardner, the President's science and technology adviser.He also seemed to feel that it was inappropriate for him to appear here, and he was shrugging his shoulders, looking restless.The eyes under the silver hair are shining with wisdom, and the dress is plain and unassuming. With this image, it seems a bit out of place to attend the meeting held by the highest authority on the planet.

Vance said quietly, "Good morning, Doctor." "Good morning, Mr. President." Dr. Gardner's smile eased the atmosphere slightly.Among the attendees, the scientist was the only one who possessed a rare demeanor: nonthreatening. "I'm here at the invitation of Mr. Watkins," Gardner said. Vance set his sights on Director of National Intelligence Charles Watkins. "We need to hear from Dr. Gardner," Watkins said. Vance nodded slightly, trying not to show displeasure.Before bringing the doctor, you should ask for your own consent in advance.Vance was annoyed that Watkins often acted his own way in the newly created post of director of national intelligence.

However, the reason for calling the Doctor will always be revealed.How to suppress the violent emotions has been his topic in recent years. "Here's the presidential briefing this morning." Watkins handed over a leather loose-leaf notebook containing important information collected by all US intelligence agencies in the past twenty-four hours. The first two pieces of information are about the war in the Middle East launched by Vance.The war situation in Iraq and Afghanistan is not satisfactory.Security in Iraq is deteriorating, terrorists lurking in Afghanistan have yet to find their hideouts, and U.S. soldiers are attrition.The number of battle deaths is directly proportional to the president's disapproval rate.Vance regretted that he blindly followed the advice of the Secretary of Defense when he started the war, and the troops attacking the enemy's territory were only one-fifth of the army chief of staff's request.Less than 100,000 troops are enough to hunt down dictators and crush the sovereignty of small countries, but it is only a drop in the bucket to restore law and order in the entire occupied area.

The third piece of intelligence was more troubling—the emergence of double agents among CIA paramilitary personnel operating in the Middle East. CIA Director Robert Holland was given permission to explain. "With regard to double agents, we have discovered a new form of leaking information. If his suspicion is true, then the suspect leaked classified information not to enemy countries, but to human rights monitoring groups." "NGO?" "Yes. Our information about the 'special rendition' leaked." After hearing the details, Vance said sullenly, "Let's discuss this matter with the legal counsel next time."

"Okay," Holland said. The fourth intelligence concerned the health of the Confederate leadership.The prime minister of a certain country suffers from depression and cannot work normally.The report believes that although the country will have a new prime minister sooner or later, the pro-American line should not change. As Vance read items five and six, he listened absently to the analyst's additional explanation.Finally, he turned to the last page.The title reads like this: Vance looked up from the loose-leaf notebook. "What's this? A Hollywood synopsis?" Only the chief of staff smiled at the president's joke. Everyone else was silent, their faces full of confusion.Vance stared at the Director of National Intelligence.The elderly Watkins met the president's sight, without showing the slightest nervousness, he just replied lightly: "This is a report from the National Security Agency."

Vance remembered that Reston, a suburb of Washington, had a virus with a high fatality rate, and the United Nations Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had jointly implemented a blockade and isolation.Is it the same problem this time? Vance returned his eyes to the report and began to read. Vance went over the report for a few minutes, then leaned back on the sofa.He finally understood why technology consultants were invited to this meeting, and said sarcastically, "This is not written by Islamic extremists, is it?"

Still in a businesslike tone, Watkins said: "This is credible intelligence, the result of detailed investigation by analysts with specialized knowledge." "All right," interrupted Vance.This report makes him very unhappy, not the content of the report, but the report itself should not exist. "I want to hear Dr. Gardner's opinion." The right to speak was politely transferred to a scientist in his fifties who stood by.Gardner faltered and said: "In the second half of the twentieth century, scientists predicted that this crisis would occur. The "Heisman Report" mentioned in the presidential briefing is just one of the materials reflecting related issues... "

This serious answer shocked Vance again. In addition to lamenting that what scientists think is beyond his comprehension, there is also a sense of humiliation welling up from the bottom of his heart.A new species has appeared that will cause human extinction?Who would believe this nonsense? "Doctor, do you also think this information is credible?" "It can only be said that it is possible." "I've prepared a copy of the Heisman Report." Watkins took out a new material from the folder. "It's already labeled under the relevant item. It's Section Five." Vance glanced at the report written in the last century.After he had finished reading, Dr. Gardner said, "This time the information was obtained indirectly. No one but the person who sent the information can confirm the existence of this creature. I think the US government should send agents to investigate the situation. " Watkins said: "At this stage, it is relatively simple to deal with this problem, and the cost is not high. It is estimated that several million dollars can be solved. However, it must be kept strictly confidential." "Is there any specific plan?" Vance asked. "I've ordered the Schneider Institute, which wrote the Heisman Report, to develop a response and have options available by the end of this week." That sounds good.Vance's brain was racing.As the president of a country involved in a war, it is best to get rid of unnecessary troubles as soon as possible.He hated the question now. "That's it, show me the plan when it comes out." "OK." These issues were brought up again at the nine o'clock cabinet meeting after the morning's daily meeting.After a short two-minute discussion, Secretary of Defense Latimer concluded: "This is a biological problem, and it can be solved by the Schneider Institute." Finally, at the initiative of the President, all bowed their heads and prayed to God. After the meeting, CIA agents entered the Cabinet Room to retrieve copies of the presidential briefings that had been sent to cabinet members.As top secret, the material had to be sent to CIA headquarters in Langley for safekeeping. At this meeting held in the late summer of 2004, less than ten people in the world knew what intelligence was mentioned and what issues were discussed.