“When the Homeland Security secretary gives the order,” Penn replied. “And I presume he will get the order from the president.”

“Don’t you think they should have done that already?”

“To what end?” the Speaker asked. “If this goes well, the whole thing will be over before there’s anything to report. The Israelis launch, Iran ceases to exist and the war is over.”

“Mr. Speaker, you can’t possibly believe that it will be that simple. If you did, we wouldn’t be about to climb into a bunker.”

“Protocols exist for a reason, Arlen. This is a formality. When nuclear forces are in play, the government relocation protocol goes into effect.”

“And the retaliation?” Strasky asked.

“NCA doesn’t expect one,” Penn said.

“And if they’re wrong?”

“Don’t even think it,” Penn said. “That would spell the end of everything, and then an alert wouldn’t make much of a difference, anyway.”

“With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, I think this is a bad idea.”

“A lot of people who’re on their way here think this is a bad idea. But Helen Blanton is president of the United States, and this is her call. She fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself.”

“A preemptive strike.” Strasky said the phrase as if it were poison. “You know we’ll get blamed for this. Our weapons, our strategy. Israel is merely a vector. History is going to tear us a new one.”

“Not all decisions are purely political, Arlen.”

“If you ask me, there’s no decision that could be more political than declaring war.”

“We’re not declaring war,” Penn corrected, stating the obvious. “Israel is. If Her Majesty, Madam President Blanton, had alerted the House, we would have said no.”

“Then why don’t we take it public? Leak it?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“Yeah, we’d lose the element of surprise,” Strasky said.

“Exactly.”

“And if we did, then we could pump the brakes on killing a couple million people. How is that a bad thing?”

Penn felt his face redden. “Are you hearing yourself, Arlen? There comes a point when the train is too far out of the station. Our only response at this point is to say yes, ma’am, and then get with the program. It’s time to start praying for startling success and utter destruction of Iran’s ability to make war on its neighbors.”

“And the Russians—”

“Won’t do anything,” Penn snapped. “Look, it’s not like this is unearned. Iran is a terror state that has promised to destroy Israel. Now that they’ve got their nukes, their rhetoric is only getting hotter. Israel has no choice but to react, and we’re going to support them.”

“What about the Pakis?”

“India would love the opportunity to barbecue their neighbor,” Penn said. “I don’t worry about that at all.”

“I just think this is wrong,” Strasky said.

“Duly noted.”