The Threat
“Outside the Sit Room windows, past the nodding petunias in their kitschy boxes, a salmon glare backlit the limos on West Executive. Columns of text scrolled down screens. The clatter of keys rose to a cicada drone as the duty officers processed another wave of messages. The phones were ringing. Illuminated numerals glowed the time in Tokyo, Baghdad, London. Dan hadn’t expected rosewood cabinetry in a watch center. He hoped his car would be okay. Sometimes they got broken into out on the Ellipse..., tires slashed.
There didn’t seem to be any official nomenclature for having all hands on deck, like “general quarters” or “red alert.” But the analysts were at their desks, the call-ins were working in the executive secretariat area, the deputy and director were in their cubicles, and the coffee machine was doing a steady business. The mess had sent in trays of brownies and sandwiches. Now and then one of the watch staff would take a paper plate and eat quickly at the comm desk, or leave for a smoke under the awning outside.MoreLess
There didn’t seem to be any official nomenclature for having all hands on deck, like “general quarters” or “red alert.” But the analysts were at their desks, the call-ins were working in the executive secretariat area, the deputy and director were in their cubicles, and the coffee machine was doing a steady business. The mess had sent in trays of brownies and sandwiches. Now and then one of the watch staff would take a paper plate and eat quickly at the comm desk, or leave for a smoke under the awning outside.MoreLess
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