Goliath

—Karl Adolf Eichmann, Nazi SS leader who oversaw the extermination of six million Jews

CHAPTER 14

2 November

White House Washington, D.C.

General Michael “Bear” Jackson enters the White House Situation Room, both of his wrists immobilized in fiberglass casts up to his midforearm. The chamber is crowded, packed four to five deep around the center conference table. Conversations are a mix of shock, outrage, and calls for revenge.

Jackson listens briefly, then takes his place at the table beside the Secretary of the Navy. President Jeff Edwards calls for quiet.

“Gentlemen … and ladies, please. By now, everyone should have a copy of Covah’s list of demands. The emergency session of the United Nations convenes in less than two hours, so we don’t have much time. Secretary Nunziata.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.” Nick Nunziata adjusts his wire-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose and opens his folder. “A few ground rules before we begin. The purpose of this meeting is not to debate whether this lunatic will launch his nuclear weapons. As we’ve already seen from the attack on the CVBG, Covah has both the will and military might to follow through on his threats. Instead, our objective this morning is to determine the proper posture and course of action our country will take in regard to each one of these demands.”

A rustle of paper as the National Security Advisors take out their copies of Simon Covah’s Declaration of Humanity.

DECLARATION OF HUMANITY

We, THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, in conjunction with the International Court of Justice, do hereby accuse the Heads of State of failing to implement and enact a comprehensive Global Non-Proliferation Treaty that guarantees complete and total nuclear disarmament by all nuclear powers. In unison, we declare that the collective welfare and rights of society must prevail over the narrow-minded views of the few. In an attempt to prevent the eradication of our species, and to, furthermore: Stop the escalating violence among ruling factions, End the tyranny of military dictatorships, Wipe out the zealots who seek to destroy society, and Guarantee the God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness among all citizens of this planet, we hereby make the following demands:

1. The complete and immediate cancellation of the United States Missile Defense Shield Program.

DEADLINE: 3 November 12:01 P.M. Greenwich

2. The complete and immediate cancellation of Pure-Fusion Technology, as well as the immediate destruction of the following existing Pure-Fusion facilities:

a. The United States National Ignition Facility at Livermore, California

b. The Laser Megajoule Complex at Bordeaux, France

c. Center for Atomic Research, Los Alamos, New Mexico

DEADLINE: 4 November 12:01 P.M. Greenwich

3. The public execution of the following criminals:

A. Saddam Hussein DEADLINE: 5 November 12:01 P.M. Baghdad B. Slobodan Milosevic DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. Yugoslavia C. Kim Jong II DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. N. Korea D. Fidel Castro DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. Cuba E. Moamer al-Khaddhafi DEADLINE: 7 November 12:01 P.M. Tripoli

4. The execution of a Global Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty calling for the immediate verifiable and complete dismantling of all thermonuclear devices.

Execution of Treaty DEADLINE: 10 November 12:01 P.M. Greenwich Dismantling of Devices DEADLINE: 2 December 12:01 P.M. Greenwich

5. Declaration of Independence and demilitarization of:

A.Tibet CHINA’S DEADLINE: 11 November 12:01 Beijing B. Kosovo YUGOSLAVIA DEADLINE: 15 November 12:01 Belgrade

6. The complete cessation of military action between government and rebel forces, the dismantling of dictatorships and regimes, and the subsequent organization of multiparty free elections to establish a lasting, enforceable, and accountable working democracy in:

“A little something in here for everyone, huh,” Nunziata says.

“Some of this reads like a Pentagon wish list,” remarks Vice President Maller. “He wants to wipe out terrorism, I say go for it. Lord knows we’ve been trying for years.”