Russia Makes Its move

Posted on Thursday February 13th, 2025 @ 3:24pm by President Jack Ryan & Presidents Staff Mark Ellis & General Chris Hayes
Edited on on Friday February 14th, 2025 @ 7:45pm

1,026 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: "A House Divided"
Location: Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), The White House
Timeline: May 27th, 2041

The atmosphere inside the PEOC was suffocating, heavy with the weight of imminent war. The low hum of monitors and the hurried exchanges between advisors did little to mask the underlying tension. President Jack Killright sat at the head of the operations table, gripping the armrests of his chair. His sharp blue eyes scanned the live feed on the main screen—columns of Russian tanks rolling across the demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia.

A deep frown creased his forehead as he flipped open a folder marked CLASSIFIED. Satellite intelligence reports and real-time footage confirmed the worst—Russian President Zarkev had declared his intentions in a fiery, nationally broadcasted speech just hours ago. "My predecessor failed to bring Ukraine back into the fold of Russian might, but I shall not. The world will soon witness our triumph!" His voice, filled with unshaken confidence, had sent shivers down the spines of global leaders.

Killright exhaled sharply. "General Hayes," he said, his voice steady despite the enormity of the moment, "we cannot let this stand. We need to send a message—one Russia cannot ignore."

Seated to his right, General Chris Hayes, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and a key leader in the NATO Response Force, leaned forward, his face grim. "Mr. President, we have forces on standby. I recommend immediate deployment of 50,000 troops to the demilitarized zone. A strong deterrent is our best shot at stopping this before it turns into a full-scale war. Additionally, the United Nations is currently debating the deployment of another 10,000 peacekeeping troops to support our forces in stabilizing the region and preventing further escalation. However, the final vote is still pending."

Killright steepled his fingers, weighing the risks. Congress had already fought him on sending three Marine battalions to stabilize unrest in the Middle East. While some Democrats had opposed him, Republicans, Independents, and several centrists had backed his decision, securing just enough votes to push the measure through. That battle had been tough—but this? This was different. There would be no time for drawn-out debates.

"Deploy them," Killright ordered without hesitation. "I want air support at full readiness, missile defense systems active, and our carrier strike groups moving into position. Russia must understand: if they advance, we will not sit idly by. Keep me updated on the UN vote—I need to know if we’ll have their backing."

General Hayes nodded, already issuing silent orders through his earpiece. "The 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions can be wheels-up in hours. The 1st Armored Division will follow. We’ll position them to reinforce NATO allies along the eastern front. And I’ll stay in close contact with UN officials to monitor their decision on the peacekeeping force."

"Good," Killright muttered, rubbing his temple. "Make sure our cyber defense teams are on high alert as well. I don’t want them crippling our infrastructure before we can even respond."

Just then, a new intelligence report flashed onto the screen. The room fell into hushed silence as the CIA Director, a thin, sharp-eyed woman named Valerie Lane, stepped forward. "Mr. President," she said urgently, "our analysts just intercepted a secure transmission between Russian command units. They're not just moving forces into Ukraine—they’re positioning tactical missile batteries along their western border. If we don’t act fast, we may be looking at more than just an invasion. We could be staring down the barrel of a nuclear confrontation."

The blood drained from Killright’s face. His grip on the table tightened. "Damn it," he hissed under his breath. "Zarkev isn't just posturing—he's playing for keeps."

He turned to his National Security Advisor, Mark Ellis. "Get me on the line with NATO. We need absolute coordination. If Zarkev crosses into Ukraine, we need to know exactly how far we’re willing to go. I won’t let this spiral into World War III—but I will not allow the free world to cower before a tyrant."

As Ellis rushed to connect the call, the tension in the room grew thicker. A live satellite feed updated in real-time, showing Russian forces reinforcing their positions. Strategic bombers had been spotted at airbases near the Ukrainian border. The stakes had just been raised.

A deep voice crackled through the secure line. "This is Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Michael Thornton. Mr. President, we are tracking Russia’s movements. NATO is ready to respond, but we need U.S. leadership on this."

Killright took a steady breath. "General, the United States is prepared to lead, but we need to be smart about this. I want a full assessment of NATO’s rapid reaction capabilities. We need to be ready for anything. Also, keep me informed about the UN vote. If they approve the peacekeeping deployment, it could provide an additional buffer and possibly prevent full-scale conflict."

"Understood, Mr. President," Thornton replied. "The NATO Response Force is mobilizing. We also have additional forces in Poland and Romania at high alert. But sir, if Russia moves beyond Ukraine—"

"We won’t let it get that far," Killright interrupted. "We will respond in kind. But I will exhaust every diplomatic channel before sending our sons and daughters into another war."

A White House aide approached quickly, whispering something into Mark Ellis's ear. The advisor's expression darkened. "Sir, we just received an urgent backchannel communication from Beijing. China is warning against intervention and is pushing for immediate negotiations. They’re offering to mediate talks between us and Moscow."

Killright tapped his fingers on the table, considering the new development. "China doesn’t want instability—they have too much at stake economically. Fine. Set up a secure call with President Liang. Let’s hear them out. But make no mistake—if Zarkev doesn’t back down, neither will we."

As the staff rushed to execute his orders, Killright leaned back, staring at the screen once more. The next hours would determine the course of history. One wrong move, and the world would be plunged into chaos.

Time was running out, and the weight of a nation's fate rested squarely on his shoulders.

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