“Senator,” The general said, “We’d be happy to send you the forensic evidence…”

“Evidence?” Stanley Kim asked. His face was growing red. “Would that be a ‘parallel construction’? An outright fabrication? Or just all the context pulled away, until it seems to say exactly what you want it to?”

“Senator,” Reid said, “It’s my professional opinion…”

“It’s my professional opinion that you are a professional liar.” Stanley Kim said, his finger still leveled at Reid. “I don’t trust you any further than I can throw you, General. I’ve listened to you say up when the facts clearly meant down for years.” He leaned in close to the screen now. “After you’ve lied to Congress with impunity for decades, why the hell should I believe anything you say?”

“Senator!” John Stockton said sharply.

Kim turned, took in Stockton again.

“We’re not playing games here,” Stockton said. “We’re under attack, Senator. Don’t give our enemies the satisfaction…”

“You’re the enemy, Mr President,” Stanley Kim said, leaning back. “You’re the one who’s broken the law, deceived the country, tortured children, kept us looking at the past instead of the future. You’ve betrayed your country in the worst possible ways. I’m going to win tomorrow. And when the special prosecutors nail you and all your toadies to the wall, don’t think there’ll be any presidential pardons coming.”

Kim waved his hand, and Brooks, his campaign manager, grim faced, stretched his hand forward. The screen went dead.

Greg Chase leaned in close to Pryce, spoke for her ears only. “Maybe,” the Press Secretary said. “Leading with the NSA wasn’t the best idea for this audience.”

Pryce shook her head a millimeter. It wasn’t ever going to go well.

Larry Cline, the President’s Campaign Manager, spoke up. “Mr President, it’s not too late to go public about the Chinese attack. The American people deserve full information when they go to the polls.”

Chase raised his voice, “I agree with Larry, Mr President. We need to set the record straight.”

Stockton looked over and shook his head, a frown on his face. “No. I won’t compromise our security over this. We’ll make the Chinese pay at the right time. Once we figure out who in China was even behind this. But we’re not going to tip them off early.”

Behind the President, NSA Director Reid looked up, met Pryce’s eyes, and nodded. Pryce inclined her head minimally in return.

Stockton went on. “Let’s get the calls going with the Speaker and the Senate Minority Leader. Maybe we can get one of them to make a statement.”

Carolyn Pryce suppressed a grimace. It was going to be an unpleasant morning.

Stanley Kim leaned back from the call, calmer now.

Michael Brooks came around the couch with two mugs of coffee in his hands, and passed one to Stan Kim.