Constitution Avenue (Sneak Preview)

Rachel Williams, now vested with the responsibility of being the leader of the free world, sat at the Resolute Desk scouring the latest security brief from the Pentagon’s Chiefs of Staff. She finished reading the last paragraph when a door opened and her own Chief of Staff, Nicole Davies, entered the Oval Office. Rachel glanced at her watch.

“The Chinese Ambassador should be arriving in a few minutes, Ma'am,” Nicole said. “You’ve had a chance to read the security brief on their increasing activities in the Taiwan Strait?”

Rachel laid the brief on her desk, leaned back in her chair, and sighed. “I have,” she replied. “I think it’s just more of the same Chinese sabre rattling: nothing to be alarmed about.”

“Most likely, Ma'am,” Nicole answered. “What do the Chiefs of Staff think, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“That’s pretty much what they think,” Rachel said. “So, what are you going to say to the Ambassador? Anything short of condemning their actions will have your critics shouting from the hilltops that you’re weak.”

A loud knock on the door interrupted Nicole. Before she could reach the door to answer it, a Secret Service agent, dressed in a black suit and wearing an earpiece, let herself in. Nicole and Rachel both froze, confused by the sudden, unexpected entrance.

“Excuse the interruption, Madam President,” the agent said. “But we’ve just caught wind of a significant security threat against the White House. We’re going to have to evacuate you to Camp David immediately.”

“What do you mean? I can’t do that!” Rachel blurted. “The Chinese Ambassador will be here any minute …”

“I’m sorry, Ma'am,” the agent interrupted. “I’m not at liberty to provide details. My orders are just to evacuate you immediately. Marine One will be here in less than five minutes. You can contact the Chinese Ambassador and receive a full briefing once you’re safely in the air. I’d advise you to grab whatever is on your desk, because we have to leave right now.”

Rachel froze momentarily, her mind spinning and trying to process the unexpected turn of events. Then, realizing the gravity of the situation, she and Nicole followed instructions by gathering up the documents on her desk and stuffing them hurriedly into two briefcases.

“This way, Madam President,” the agent said, leading her and Nicole out of the office.

They rushed through the White House’s hallowed corridors to the rear entrance of the historic building, arriving just as Marine One touched down on the rear White House lawn. Moments later, when the aircraft’s blades had slowed to a safe speed, the Secret Service agent placed her hand on Rachel’s shoulder.

“Follow me, Madam President,” she said.

Rachel and Nicole rushed across the perfectly manicured blades of grass, ducking down as they approached the aircraft. The agent helped Rachel up the stairs, and as Nicole entered the aircraft, the turbines’ whine increased in pitch and the aircraft rocked from side to side. The agent escorted Rachel and Nicole to their seats and handed each of them a set of headphones.

“Fasten your seatbelts ladies,” the agent said into her microphone.

The rocking of the aircraft and the whine of its turbines continued to increase, until Rachel finally felt the helicopter lift off the ground. It gained altitude swiftly, and she saw the White House lawn recede rapidly. High above Washington, they were now heading towards Maryland. The Secret Service Agent tapped Nicole on the shoulder and plugged her headphones and headset into the aircraft’s phone system. Rachel watched as her assistant dialled the Chinese Embassy. After a long wait, Nicole had an animated conversation with somebody at the embassy, and then she ended the call. The agent reconnected her headphones and headset to the aircraft’s communication system.

“We’ve rescheduled the Chinese Ambassador for eleven-hundred tomorrow at Camp David, Ma'am,” Nicole said.

“You know I don’t like that military clock stuff.”

“Sorry, Ma’am,” Rachel answered. “I meant 11 a.m.”

Rachel nodded her acknowledgment, then she turned to the Secret Service Agent. “So, what’s happening? Why the evacuation?”

“We caught some online chatter late this morning about a secret far right convoy that was gathering in at least two locations inside D.C. The organizer appears to be associated with the Brothers of Liberty, a white supremacist organization. Allegedly, their goal is to encircle the White House, with you inside.”

“What about the police?” Rachel asked. “Why didn’t they stop it?”

“We found out too late, Ma'am. Trucks, buses, and vans are coming from every direction to join the convoy. It’s extremely well-organized.”

“Are they succeeding in their objective?” Nicole inquired.

“We’re not sure yet,” the agent replied. “Apparently, a mob of Unite the Left demonstrators on the mall somehow found out about the convoy. We picked up on all of the sudden Unite the Left chatter and that’s how we found out about the convoy ourselves. At this moment, they’re heading towards the White House and it looks like the two sides are going to collide at some point. D.C. police are just ramping up an emergency response.”

“Oh, my God!” Rachel blurted. “So this could potentially turn into another January sixth riot, maybe even worse if both sides are involved—or, Heaven forbid, if there’s guns.”

She shook her head solemnly from side to side. Only one month into the job, I’m having to face a credible threat to my life, AND the nation’s democracy! She turned to Nicole.

“As soon as we land and get settled, get me in contact with D.C. Police so we can keep abreast of what’s happening on the ground.”

“Yes, Ma'am,” Nicole answered.

“Also, get me in touch with the D.C. National Guard. We don’t want to make the same mistakes they made on January sixth—I want them placed on immediate standby. I intend to be a President who’s part of the solution this time—not the source of the problem.”

“Should I plan a press release or a press conference?” Nicole asked.

“Not yet. I’ll let you know after I’ve been in touch with DCMP and the National Guard.”

Before she knew it, Rachel felt Marine One bank right and start its descent into Camp David. She felt her heart pumping and felt the tension in the muscles in her head, neck, and especially in her shoulders. Her adrenaline was flowing and she realized that she was about to face her first big test as President of the United States.