Assassination in the Heart of Power

Posted on Tuesday April 1st, 2025 @ 6:30pm by President Jack Ryan & Presidents Staff Mark Ellis & Secretary Of Homeland Defense Ethan McAllister & General Chris Hayes & Vice President John Franklin -ling
Edited on on Tuesday April 1st, 2025 @ 6:36pm

1,728 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 2: "The New Darkest Hour"
Location: White House - Oval Office
Timeline: May 29th, 2041 - 10:00pm, 2 Hours After Killrights speech to Nation
Tags: Vice President Killed

The air in the Oval Office was thick with tension and exhaustion. President Jack Killright sat at the head of the table, his sharp gaze scanning the faces of his most trusted advisors. The clock ticked relentlessly, marking the passage of time since the crisis had erupted. It had been 48 hours of hell, punctuated by anxious calls, tense meetings, and the relentless pressure of global scrutiny.

Secretary Ethan McAllister, his brow furrowed, shuffled through a stack of documents. “The Russians have finally pulled back from the DMZ, Mr. President,” he reported, his voice steady but weary. “We’ve confirmed their withdrawal through satellite imagery. But we need to capitalize on this moment.”

General Hayes, the stoic Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Commandant of the Marine Corps, nodded in agreement. “We must ensure our defensive posture is strong but measured. Any sign of weakness at this juncture could embolden further provocations. The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian forces is unpredictable; we shouldn’t lull ourselves into a false sense of security.”

“True, General,” President Killright replied. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. “What’s our next move, then? We can’t look weak in front of the world.”

National Security Advisor Mark Ellis, who had been reviewing intel reports, chimed in, “We need to engage diplomatically but with an iron fist wrapped in velvet gloves. I suggest we propose a summit with the Russian leadership—a show of strength through negotiation. It could send a clear message that while we welcome peace, we are ready for the worst.”

“That’s the right approach, Mark,” Killright said, a glimmer of hope piercing through the weight of the situation, “but we can’t make it look like we’re simply capitulating. They need to understand that their actions have consequences.”

General Hayes leaned forward, his voice low but firm. “Mr. President, this peace is tenuous at best. We should also prepare for potential backlash—cyber attacks or proxies acting on behalf of the Kremlin. Our defenses need to be solidified, both in cyberspace and on the ground.”

Killright surveyed the room, feeling the weight of leadership settle heavily on his shoulders. “Ethan, can you have the Defense Department prepare all necessary protocols for our cyber defenses? Mark, get in touch with your Russian counterparts. I want to set that summit up as soon as possible, but prepare for the worst. General Hayes, keep our forces on high alert, and ensure all branches are briefed and ready. We cannot slip now.”

Suddenly, an uncomfortable truth weighed heavily in the room. Alongside the geopolitical crisis was another urgent task. The recent attack that had decimated the government's leadership could not be ignored. Investigations needed to be ramped up immediately.

Killright straightened in his chair and addressed the group, “We need to return to the investigations into the attack. We lost key figures in our government, and we need to understand how this happened and who is responsible. This is not just about military posture; it's about securing our nation and restoring stability from within.”

Ethan nodded, pulling together relevant documents. “We can’t let this crisis overshadow our domestic issues. I’ll coordinate with the FBI and the intelligence community to ensure we have all hands on deck. We need to identify the perpetrators, and quickly.”

General Hayes added, “The intelligence on foreign influences must be a priority. We need to know if this was a coordinated attack from outside, or if we have domestic threats we haven’t yet uncovered.”

Mark Ellis, ever vigilant, leaned forward. “Agreed. I can arrange for a briefing from our intelligence services on the findings so far. We’ll ensure that every piece of information gets shared with you, Mr. President.”

Killright nodded, feeling the gravity of the moment. “Let’s make this investigation our top priority. With our leadership diminished, it’s all hands on deck to prevent this from happening again.”

As they all got to work, the already heavy air in the room thickened with purpose. The fragile peace outside was but a cover for the storm brewing within, and they knew the path ahead would be fraught with danger and uncertainty. But they would navigate it together, one step at a time, as they fought for not just their government’s survival, but the very tenets of freedom and justice.

"And Get Me The Vice President" Killright ordered. The Aide nodded and ran off to get the Vice President


Vice Preisdents Office

The Aided knocked, but there was no reply—strange, she thought. Hesitating for a moment, she stepped inside and let out a startled scream. Panic surged as two Secret Service agents stationed just outside heard her cry and burst in, shouting commands.

“Get back! Clear the area!” one yelled, his voice booming with urgency as he swiftly pushed her aside.

What they found was a chilling scene: the Vice President's body lay sprawled across his desk, blood soaking the papers beneath him. It was horrifyingly clear—part of the back of his head was missing, and inexplicably, the glass windows behind him remained intact.

“Secure the perimeter!” another agent shouted into his radio, their faces a mix of shock and determination.

The lead agent, his heart racing, quickly moved to a secure communication line. “This is Agent Collins, we have an emergency situation.” He paused, forcing himself to remain steady. “The Vice President is down—apparent assassination. I need confirmation on the President's location and security status. We may have an active threat in progress. Requesting full lockdown of the White House and immediate protection for the President.”

His commands reverberated through the chaos as he continued to issue orders to his team. “Evacuate non-essential personnel and prepare a tactical response team. We need to ascertain if this was a targeted attack or something broader. Move, now!”

In that instant, the weight of reality crashed down on them. The United States had suffered a devastating blow: the Vice President was dead. The air was thick with tension and disbelief, as the agents scrambled to restore order amidst the chaos, their every instinct urging them to protect and act in a moment of profound tragedy.


Oval Office

The air in the Oval Office was thick with tension as President Jack Killright leaned back in his chair, gazing out of the window at the sprawling grounds of the White House. His two most trusted advisors, Secretary Ethan McAllister and General Hayes, sat across from him at the polished wooden table, the weight of the current global economy hanging heavily in the air.

“The situation with China continues to evolve,” Ethan said, rifling through a bundle of reports. “Their economy is showing signs of slowing, which could mean opportunities for us. But we need to tread carefully—any misstep could provoke a backlash.”

General Hayes nodded thoughtfully. “True. We can't underestimate their reaction. While they may be faltering economically, their military capability is still formidable. We need to balance diplomatic engagement with a strong defense posture. If we show any sign of weakness on the global stage, it could embolden adversaries.”

Killright rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the fatigue of leadership pressing down on him. “You’re both right. The last thing we need is to become the target of opportunistic moves. We must project strength while still being open to negotiations.”

Ethan leaned in, his brow furrowed. “And let’s not forget about the energy crisis. The fluctuating oil prices are having a ripple effect worldwide. We should consider how that impacts our relations with key allies and how it gives leverage to adversaries.”

“Exactly,” Hayes replied. “We need to ensure our energy security is rock solid. Any disruption could have dire consequences—not just economically, but also militarily. We can’t afford to give anyone a foothold.”

As they continued to dissect the complexities of international economics, the atmosphere was suddenly disrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

Before anyone could respond, the door burst open, and a Counter Assault Team flooded into the room, flanked by four Marines in dress uniform, their faces set in stoic determination. The lead agent shouted, “Sir! We need to secure the area immediately!”

Killright immediately straightened, concern washing over him. “What’s going on?”

“There’s been a security breach—there's reason to believe the Vice President has been found dead in his office. This may be an assassination. We need to get you to a secure location, now," the agent said, urgency radiating from him.

Shock rippled through the room, and the ongoing discussion of the global economy faded into the background. Killright exchanged alarmed looks with Ethan and Hayes, the weight of the news crashing down on them like a tidal wave.

“Dead?” Killright replied, struggling to maintain his composure. “Do we know how? We can’t just abandon our duties. We need to respond to this.”

“Sir, your safety is our top priority,” the lead agent insisted, his tone firm. “We cannot afford any risks right now.”

General Hayes, already shifting into tactical mode, interjected, “If there’s been an attack, we need to understand its implications. We can’t throw caution to the wind—we have to ensure we’re prepared for what comes next.”

Ethan nodded, his expression resolute. “We can’t let this derail our focus. We must secure the nation’s stability and ensure a thorough investigation into what’s happened.”

Killright squared his shoulders, his resolve solidifying. “Then let’s proceed, but carefully. We need to gather intelligence on this situation while protecting the integrity of our leadership. We can’t allow fear to dictate our actions.”

With military precision, the Counter Assault Team began establishing a secure perimeter around the president, while the four Marines took up strategic positions, their dress uniforms a stark contrast to the chaos that was unfolding. The atmosphere thickened with a shared determination among the men—a commitment to safeguard the nation amidst the growing storm.

In that moment, Killright understood this was about more than just their safety; it was about the very foundation of their government and the principles they were sworn to protect. As the team moved quickly to secure the area, the heart of leadership beat strongly within those walls, prepared to confront whatever threats lay ahead.

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