Sky Zone: A Novel (The Crittendon Files) by Creston Mapes Page A

Sterling, probably because the man could very well be the next president of the United States.
    “A lot of senators don’t read a tenth of it. You believe that?” Sterling swiveled around to his computer screen and moved the mouse. “Some have their aides do it … Oh, for goodness’ sake. Seventy-four new emails in the last ninety minutes. And I guarantee you, half of it’s hate mail.” He shoved the mouse, turned the chair toward Derrick, and leaned way back, clasping his hands behind his head.
    In the glow from his computer screen, Sterling’s thick hair, combed over in front, had the color and texture of steel wool. Although he wore an expensive suit, his wide red tie was crooked and his gray shirt wrinkled. Derrick even noticed some grayish beard stubble beneath the sides of his sharp jaw. As Sterling rolled up his sleeves, revealing dark hairy wrists, Derrick got the impression that the man’s life outside the office mirrored the mess on his desk.
    “You’ve got to keep focused on your top priorities in this work and forget the small stuff.” Sterling tossed both hands into the air. “Let it roll right off. Otherwise you’ll never get anything accomplished.”
    “Speaking of priorities, sir, I want to ask you about the proposed initiative you just talked about in Senate chambers—to get the country up to speed on the threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack.”
    Sterling opened his hands like a bomb exploding. “We’re totally unprepared for an EMP. Our power grid is vulnerable at best. Such an attack would bring the US to a standstill. It would permanently disable electronic devices. You’ve seen the show Revolution , where the power goes out?”
    Derrick nodded.
    “That’s what we’re talking about. ATMs stop working. Water and sewer systems shut down. Transportation comes to a halt. We’d be in the Dark Ages—”
    “You mentioned this threat is real, right now. It could happen …”
    “A short-range ballistic missile carrying an EMP device could destroy our critical infrastructure today. ” Sterling snapped his fingers.
    “Who would this come from?”
    “Any rogue nation could create a radio-frequency device that could cause an EMP that would disrupt critical systems. Heck, Iran and North Korea have ballistic missile capabilities. We are not ready! This is the platform I’m running on, Whittaker. President Brumby is burying his head in the sand. His job is to protect the people of this country. The job ain’t gettin’ done!”
    Derrick had heard all of this in Sterling’s speeches. “What I want to know, Senator, is what it would cost to develop the system you talked about that would combat these vulnerabilities.”
    Sterling shook his head. “Millions, maybe billions. But you see, herein lies the difference between the president and me. For me, this is a hands-down, red-alert top priority. For him”—he slashed his hand low—“it’s not even on the radar. Our nation’s defense is this administration’s lowest budget priority among the major responsibilities of the federal government. His proposed plan would shrink our defense budget even more than he has already, not just slow its rate of growth as he claims. Heck, everybody knows he’s financing terrorist sympathizers.”
    “Where would the money come from to pay for the defense against EMPs?”
    “It’s back to my mantra. Cut. Government. Spending! We are gonna be ruthless when it comes to this. I truly believe government is four to five times larger than it should be. Some of those funds we save by reducing big government will go toward EMP defense, the National Counterterrorism Center, new defenses against cyberthreats—”
    “Okay, fine. I get that,” Derrick said.
    “Good.” Sterling leaned on his desk. “You cooled down?”
    Derrick chuckled. “Yes, I am. Thanks for letting me come in.”
    Sterling rose. “Anything else?”
    “One thing I’m curious about.” Derrick pointed to Sterling’s computer.