Defcon One (1989) by Joe Weber

Americans.
    The room remained silent.
    Initiative? Zhilinkhov said with a question in his eyes as he refilled his glass. This is not an initiative. This is an all-out, massive nuclear strike on the United States.
    The fire snapped, reminding the general secretary that he needed to resupply the grate. He unobtrusively stepped in front of his five friends and gingerly placed two logs on the glowing embers, showering sparks over his freshly shined shoes. Returning to his chair, Zhilinkhov proposed a toast.
    Comrades, we are joined on the eve of the most important event in the history of our Motherland. Our countrymen will hail us for generations.We will provide our people an opportunity for productive and peaceful lives. A nuclear war can be won if we strike first. We will survive to rule the entire globe. World supremacy at last.
    Comrades. We will be revered for all of history as the fathers of a modern Russia. A Russia without boundaries!
    Zhilinkhov raised his glass in a salute to his five friends.
    To the Motherland, my friends.
    The general secretary beamed broadly. The Politburo quartet, accompanied by the defense minister, responded in kind, glancing cautiously at each other.
    To a supreme Russia, comrades.
    The resounding clink of crystal, as well as the entire conversation, had been clearly audible to the quiet figure standing in the hallway.

Defcon One (1989)

CAPE CANAVERAL
    Rex Hays, alternately jotting notes and doodling, listened intently to the president's chief of staff. He had been surprised when Wilkinson called to brief him personally on the Russian situation.
    Hays reflected on the contrast between Dave Miller and Wilkinson.
    There was an intellectual chasm between the indefatigable Grant Wilkinson and the slovenly Miller.
    Hays waited for an opening to ask his first question. Mister Wilkinson ' Grant, please.' The chief of staff did not care for ceremony or pomposity.
    Grant it is. What do you think about moving the launch time up a day or two, along with an unpublished schedule?
    Hays was thinking about an obvious Russian attempt to prevent the SDI satellites from reaching orbit.
    We don't believe it makes any difference at this point, Wilkinson cleared his throat and continued. They know we're in DEFCON-Three and loaded for bear. The intelligence people believe Zhilinkhov is testing our defensive perimeters. Their scrambled message traffic has increased forty percent in the past forty-eight hours.
    What's the climate between the president and the general secretary, if it isn't classified? Hays asked, wondering if he was overstepping his bounds.
    It is classified, but that doesn't make much difference.
    The walls are porous around here. The Post receives information faster than I do, Wilkinson chuckled before continuing his brief. The president proposed a meeting, face to face, one on one, at the convenience of the general secretary. That was late last night.
    Zhilinkhov agreed this morning and suggested a meeting in twenty-four hours in the Azores, at Lajes.
    I assume the president accepted. Hays was very curious about the possibility of a meeting between the two superpower leaders. The Soviet leader was still a mystery to most people.
    Oh yes, and he was unusually conciliatory. He liked the location.
    Great security and isolated, too. Air Force One is being prepared now and we expect to leave in... Wilkinson looked at his wall clock, noting the time, an hour and a half.
    Seventeen hundred eastern.
    How long do you anticipate being there? Hays asked, thinking the president might be out of the country when they launched Columbia.
    Three, possibly four days. Perhaps longer if we make any progress.
    The president has some ideas to present. I'm obviously not at liberty to discuss those topics, but you'll be kept apprised.
    Hays doodled continuously, not wanting to interrupt Wilkinson. He was fascinated by the intrigue.
    Better let you off the phone. This place is a madhouse and I've got a plane to catch. Good