"The usual. I'm missing something."
"You and everyone else around here. You know tonight I had to prevent the VP's commo guy from using the emergency network to order gin? Someone down here wants martinis."
Lana sighed. She crossed to the communication master workstation and checked the systems. The emergency network had not been utilized, which meant that by morning one of the high-ranking men hiding underground would be on the phone to General Greene to complain about the lack of gin.
"Water, I can understand. That's a big deal," Elise continued. "The network good?"
"Yeah. They didn't use it. Will I be reading another report about you smacking someone?"
"Nope. Just told the commo guy he wouldn't ever see the light of day again if he touched the commo pad."
"I'm glad you're down there, Elise," she said. "I'm not sure I could tell the VP to sit down and shut up with the same panache you have."
"It's fun. How's life in the sun? I thought Jim told me you're seeing survivors at the gates?"
Lana's smile faded. "Our location isn't secret anymore," she responded in a troubled tone. "It's crazy around here sometimes."
She was uneasy lingering on the events of the past week. The local populace-some dressed in the Western uniforms she'd seen in her history classes-was making its way towards the compound, lured by the rumors of the government compound and food, water, and medicines. She did not agree with the commander's orders to kill anyone who stepped within range. Her gaze returned to the map.
"Everyone's asleep, and I'm bored," Elise complained. "Tell me why you always stare at that map whenever I call."
"It just doesn't make sense to me," Lana began. She sat again in the uncomfortable chair that had become her alternate bed.
"What doesn't?"
"We had no advanced warning that this was going to happen. That's virtually impossible, Elise. The attacks on the coast occurred simultaneously with nukes that would've been impossible to hide, let alone smuggle into the country. No one has this capability, even the PMF."
"I thought you domestic security types were supposed to be watching this kind of thing."
"We do. We did. I've never seen anything indicating the PMF could wipe out the East Coast. It doesn't fit with their alleged party objectives or any tactics they've ever employed."
"No one else could've done it. Unless you know something I don't?" Elise countered.