Empire by Orson Scott Card

said Coleman. And without further warning, he dropped to the ground, fully prone. “Get down, sir!”
    Reuben understood what Coleman believed—that someone obviously knew they were there, and might start shooting at any time. “Do five pushups immediately. One-handed,” said Reuben. “Then laugh like it’s a joke.”
    Coleman did as he was told, then bounded back up to his feet, laughing. “You think they want us alive,” he said.
    â€œThey don’t jam cellphones when they plan to kill the caller,” said Reuben.
    â€œYou’re being set up,” said Coleman. “You’re the fall guy.”
    â€œThey have a complete set of plans for this terrorist operation, written by me, and I’m right here at this site.”
    â€œWho knew you were coming here?”
    â€œI always come here.” Reuben started walking toward Coleman’s car. “Get your keys out,” said Reuben. “You’re driving.”
    â€œI’ve watched the movies. I know how this plays out. My car is going to get shot up and wrecked and fall into the river, and
your
car will be fine.”
    â€œMy guess is that my car won’t start,” said Reuben.
    They kept up the casual walking until they were in the car. “Drive gently for a while,” said Reuben. “How fast were those underwater things going?”
    â€œSlow swimming speed,” said Coleman.
    â€œBut this is the area where Fort McNair maintains listening devices.”
    Coleman drove around the curve of the point and started back up toward the ranger station.
    â€œA little faster now,” said Reuben. “If they’re following my plan, then they’ll switch on the submersibles and make a lot better speed the rest of the way up into the Tidal Basin.”
    â€œAnd we’re going to intercept them where?”
    â€œWe’re going to the ranger station to make some calls on land lines. And to get some guns and some guys who know how to shoot.”
    â€œSo what’s the plan?” asked Coleman. “They get out of the water, take off their scuba gear, and run across the Mall and attack the White House from the Ellipse? That area is so blocked off and guarded that they’ll be dead before they get close.”
    â€œThey get out of the water, they set up their rocket launchers just above the retaining wall at the inside of the Tidal Basin, past the Independence Avenue bridge.”
    â€œRocket launchers,” said Coleman, nodding.
    â€œYou can’t see the White House from there—the Washington Monument is up on a hill, and the White House is invisible. So for the past couple of weeks, they’ve been practicing how many degrees to aim to the left of the monument in order to hit the White House. And they’ve got the range set to the micron. They probably knowhow to put one through any window in the White House that they want.”
    And they were at the ranger station.
    They parked the car illegally and ran inside, ignoring the remonstrances of the park ranger who followed them in, shouting, “Intruders!”
    Great.
Here
there was something approaching vigilance.
    Reuben had his ID out and was flashing it to the security guard and then to the receptionist. “I would appreciate your close attention,” he said, almost softly, though with a great deal of intensity. He didn’t want them to be afraid, he wanted them to obey. “There is a possible attack on the White House coming out of the Tidal Basin at any moment. It will be a rocket attack. We need to notify the President to get low and get out. We need troops mobilized and sent to the Independence Avenue bridge at the Tidal Basin. And we need the best rifles you can muster with all the ammo you have at hand.”
    â€œTell us where to go and
we’ll
shoot,” said the guard.
    â€œWe’re Special Ops,” said Coleman. “We know how to
use
them.”
    There was