The large Situation Room under the White House echoed with cheers. Gone were the doubts of the past hours. Gone was the skepticism of the last few nonbelievers. Neal and Barrett shook hands. Neal was laughing. They had done it. Barrett looked him in the eye.

“Enjoy it, Neal. It’s our first victory. We can relax for a bit. We are safe … for now.”

Neal’s smile faded a little but remained strong, his eyes becoming pensive at his friend’s proviso. He nodded slightly, repeating his coconspirator’s words, “For now.” Then after glancing around the room, Neal asked in a quiet voice, “Any news of Jack and Martin?”

The colonel shook his head almost imperceptibly and took a sip from his glass of water, his eyes telling Neal to leave the subject alone. Barrett noticed something across the room and Neal picked up on his sudden consternation and followed his stare. Admiral Hamilton was talking on one of the room’s many secure phones and he looked deeply concerned. Neal and Barrett glanced at each other and then turned as one to make their way over and see what was happening.

Halfway across the room, they were intercepted by an excited Jim Hacker, all smiles and pats on the back.

“Gentlemen,” he said, stopping them in their tracks, “wow, I must admit, I had my doubts. But when those missiles started to get picked off. Holy shit!” he laughed, “Half a million bucks a pop and those bastards were swatting them like flies. But then they came to your bad boys in the rear and no more easy takedowns for them, huh? Slam! No more, huh? Bam! Wow, what a thing. I tell you, I would love to have seen their faces when they realized we had that advanced shielding, right?”

Barrett looked at the man and smiled, as did Neal, his infectious enthusiasm warming them. The colonel replied pleasantly, “Yes, Jim, hell of a thing.”

Then Jim became suddenly serious again, his expression changing with an ease only politicians and actors are capable of, and in a businesslike tone he went on, “Listen, Colonel, Neal, I know you’ve told us this is just the beginning, and I think I can speak for the president when I say that this effort is going to enjoy the administration’s full support from now on. We’re going to need to start a task force to handle this, and I know the president will want you and your team involved.”