Chapter 13

We Need A Resolution

Mac walked into the sit room and as usual everyone stood up. "At ease," Mac said waving it all off and heading to her seat at the head of the table. "Any reports?"

"Our extraction team found most of the spy unit's equipment was gone," General Kreager stated, "There were two bodies found, the other three were missing."

"Those were the experts on the area." Tony Rodriguez, the National Security advisor said.

"Are you saying that the three of them were double agents?" Mac asked sitting back in the chair.

"No ma'am," answered Secretary of Defense Mills Francis, "But it is a possibility."

"The extraction team sent us some transmissions that may tell us a bit about what happened." Kreager stated, "They are encoded, so we're working to decode it."

"In the mean time, we talk to the ambassador, see what they know about the spy unit," Mac said standing up.

"Yes Ma'am," the general said as they all followed suit.

"Okay, this will be a long process, so I guess those who can go home, should go home." Mac said with a nod then stepped around the table towards the door. The rest of the room exited the sit room behind her, and then she headed down to the oval for a last check before heading up to the residence.

Mac sat at the dinner table chuckling at the banter between the twins and Amy. She was glad to be back up to the residence before everyone went to bed. "I got tons more homework, so I'm heading to my room," Becca said standing from the table.

"Night Becca," Mac said then looked across the table at Horace.

"I think that that you and I have some homework to finish Madame Secretary," Rod said to Amy.

"Aww man!" Amy said getting up from the table then coming over to her mom and giving her a hug.

"Go on, I'll tuck you in, in a little bit." Mac said placing a kiss on the top of her head. She then turned to her son and smiled, "so did you win?" She asked Horace.

"I quit the race," He said as she came around the table to him, "You and Becca were right, I was just doing it for the popularity of it, and I wasn't sure that I could do the job."

"You could definitely do the job." Mac said sitting next to him at the table, "I just wanted you to go into this with your eyes wide open."

"I kind of found out that being student body president would have taken up most of my time, and it would take away from the other stuff I do."

"Well... Yeah I see how that can be a bummer," Mac said quirking a brow.

"What made it worth it for you?" He asked.

"You did," Mac answered reaching out and giving him a hug, "you and your sisters made it all worth while. I'm proud of you."

Just then Rod came into the Dining room, "Hey Mac, you're needed in the sit room."

She looks at Rod, then back at Horace as she stands up, "Okay, Um I see you guys in a bit." Mac said rushing out of the room.

"At ease," Mac said as he walked into the room, "What's the deal."

"Ma'am we have found the remaining unit members shot and killed execution style thirty miles from the original site." Tony said handing her a file as she passed by him.

"What about the stolen intelligence." She asked her stomach churning with dread.

"It's lost ma'am" Kreager stated, "and even if we found it, it doesn't guarantee that they haven't decoded the information anyway."

"So what you're telling me is these men died in vain?" Mac said angrily, "I don't think so General, I may have just stepped into this job, but I know that this is unacceptable."

"So how do we proceed ma'am?" Kreager asked.

"I think we need to send another team to finish the job." Mac stood up, "Pull back the rescue team and start all over again. Stay on alert from anything from China, Covert Missions are meant to stay covert, This happens again I will have your brass."

In a huff she tossed the file back on the table and walked out of the situation room. Jim followed her, "Madame President, May I have a moment please." He had never seen the woman so angry.

She stopped short and turned to face Jim, "I don't need a lecture right now Jim, Really." Mac said and continued to walk towards home. "I'm tiered, I haven't slept for more than three hours in forty-eight hours, I'm pissed I just want to go upstairs take a shower and be unconscious for at least twelve hours, This situation was a waste of my time and intellect."

"And I agree, I just wanted to say that thanks to you, those ten American soldiers didn't die in vein, The new team will be more thoroughly screened so that this doesn't happen again."

"Jim this shouldn't have happened in the first place," Mac said stopping and looking at her Chief of Staff, "You better let me know anything else Bridges had up his sleeves. I want no more surprises."

"I apologize for that, but President Bridges kept a lot to himself," Jim said as they resumed walking, "I'm beginning to feel like a token black man."

Mac stopped and looked at him again, then laughed, "Well you're important to my team." They resumed walking again. "Jim your mission, if you choose to accept it is to find out every covert operation your friend Teddy has on the lineup. This team will work only if we communicate."

"Yes Ma'am." Jim said stopping at the foot of the stairs.

Remember this, I'm not president by accident but by natural selection," Mac said pausing on the landing before entering the residence. "God put this nation in my hands, and I will do my best to lead it. Good night."

"Good night ma'am." Jim responded watching the most powerful person go home to her family.

The End