< EARLY MORNING, NEW YEARS EVE, 2010. AFTER A LONG NIGHT AT YOUR PLANNING CELL PORING OVER SITUATION MAPS AND INTELLIGENCE REPORTS, YOU AND THE REST OF YOUR COLLEAGUES OF THE J3-6 STAFF DECIDE TO TAKE A BREAK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TOAST IN THE NEW YEAR. YOU'RE TELLING JOKES, LETTING OFF STEAM, FORGETTING FOR A FEW MOMENTS THE LOOMING CLOUDS OF CONFLICT BUILDING UP AROUND THE WORLD. SUDDENLY, THE RED PHONE BUZZES LOUDLY FROM ACROSS THE ROOM. IT IS COL. LACKEY, THE CHAIRMAN'S ADJUTANT, WHO INSTRUCTS ALL OF YOU TO JOIN THE REST OF THE JOINT STAFF IN THE MAIN WAR ROOM IN 10 MINUTES WHERE AN EMERGENCY SESSION OF THE JOINT CHIEFS IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. YOU CAN TELL BY HIS TONE THAT THE TIME FOR TELLING JOKES IS OVER. A FEW MINUTES LATER YOU ARRIVE AT THE WAR ROOM AS THE JOINT CHIEFS, THE JOINT STAFF AND OTHER ESTEEMED GENERALS AND ADMIRALS ENTER, SOME OF WHOM HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN CALLED OUT OF BED AND ARE LOOKING EVEN MORE DISHEVELED THAN YOURSELVES. THERE IS URGENCY IN THE AIR, FORMALITIES ARE BRIEF. YOU TAKE YOUR SEAT QUICKLY. AS YOU DO, YOU NOTICE A SHEET OF PAPER THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU GLANCE AT IT TO SEE IF IT OFFERS A HINT AS TO WHAT THIS EMERGENCY BRIEFING IS ALL ABOUT. YOU SEE THAT IT IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL FROM THE CHAIRMAN, SENT BY THE PENTAGON'S ENCRYPTED VPN INTERLINK ONLY A FEW MINUTES AGO. IT READS.... >

Gentlemen:

I'm sorry to disturb you at this late hour but we have just received disturbing news of the gravest national importance. I am just now returning from Camp David where I met briefly with the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor in order to discuss this suddenly emerging crisis.

It is my duty to inform you that as of 01:00 this morning, by order of the National Command Authority, the United States has entered a state of war with the Russian Union. The Russian ambassador has been dismissed and will be embarking for his homeland within the hour. A formal declaration of war is expected to be passed by Congress by late tomorrow morning. Similar declarations are expected from all NATO member countries tomorrow as well.

In a few minutes I will be joining you to brief you on the current situation and what our next steps will be. In the meantime, I have asked the Director of Operations to bring you up to speed on the events that have transpired since a few minutes after midnight, as reported to us by SACEUR.

Following the meeting, CINCLANT will immediately assume his role as SACLANT in support of NATO operations under the command of SACEUR. The J3-6 staff will immediately be dissolved and reassigned to the area of conflict to better utilize their skills as wartime commanders. Orders and assignments will be forthcoming shortly.

Gentlemen, we face a critical challenge in the days ahead. But I know that you will not let your country down.

General Rick E. Tickey,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff