After getting security clearance from the Secret Service dad and I got our aides, the national security team to be precise online. "So... now we're looking at the threat from a terrorist group?" Dad's chief of staff asked, not Chan. "Aw shit, what are we up against?"

"Haven't you heard of the name The Rising Jihad?" I asked him back.

"No, Madam Vice President." He said, biting his lower lip. I bring a hand to my face for a minute and looked at him.

"And now you're making me wanna cry as well." I said. "Director Fox, tell them." They all looked at dad and me while Mike Fox briefed them on the group.

"Oh my god." Dad's chief of staff responded. "We're close to World War Three now."

"Hold that thought. Not yet." I said. "If the leader is not dead..."

"There's still a big chance that he would just..." the director of the F.B.I., Julius Harkavy continued, making a fake gun shot out of his hands. "Off you both."

"At least we still HAVE a smart guy. Besides you Mike." Dad said, faking a cough.

"You know what's at stake sir." He then added. "You and your daughter... I mean, the uh... Madam Vice President."

"Don't. I am the vice president now." I declared, looking at him in the eye.

"Sir, who do we suspect now since Moscow is also attacked?" The director asked.

"My daughter has already figured that out, but they are only theories."

"Yes, I have done that." I said. "So far... the president and I have been pondering that are the Russians trying out their own Operation Northwoods."

"What? Isn't that during Kennedy's time?" The National Security Advisor asked me.

"If not we have three choices : China, North Korea, or, worst case scenario, the Cuban rebels."

"Yup, we're back to the 1960's again." Fox chuckled. "Back to the whole shooting game again."

"Careful of what you say Director Mike." Dad warned him. "We're not going to use nukes. You hear me?"

"I hear you sir. Just saying."

"And now what? We'll just wait?" The secretary of defense asked dad.

"That will be me and the vice president's cards." Dad replied cryptically. "We already have plans on what we should do next." He smiled upon hearing a helicopter descending.

"Mr. President? Madam Vice President?" Barrowman asked, poking his head into the room.

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's the Germans. The Chancellor of Germany is here."

"Oh." I said. "That means..."

"We'll be in touch with you all, people." Dad said. Arriving at the doorstep we witnessed the helicopter touch down on the grass and the door slides open.

"Technically speaking daddy, are we all here to solve this matter?"

"Yup. All the heads of the states that were attacked will be here to meet with President Jeffery Christian Reagan and Vice President Isabella Reagan to discuss about the same issue." I sighed and looked at dad.

"Temporary? We still have a UN meeting two days later."

"The UN has had the summit suspended in respond to the attacks." Dad replied. "They can stay as long as they want to."

"It's gonna be one hell of a story when I tell Bruce and my whole team about it."

"He would listen?" Dad asked, chuckling in respond.

"Haha, you wanna try?" I asked. "After all, you're more familiar with the heads of states."

"And shouldn't you be as well? Considering that you have visited them before."

"You have conversations with them, private conversations, not diplomatic ones."

"That I admit." He said. I folded my arms as the chancellor approached. Lucas Merkel, a relatively new chancellor of Germany stepped up the stairs and shook hands with my father. "It's good to see you in person Chancellor Merkel."

"Yes, yes of course." The chancellor replied. "Pardon me for being sensitive President Reagan. Is she...?"

"She's my daughter. Isabella Reagan, Chancellor Lucas Merkel of Germany."

"What a beautiful soul." He said, bowing in front of me as a sign of courtesy. I looked awkwardly at dad.

"Let's get inside." Dad said.

We entered the dining room instead of the living room and sat down on the chairs. "Lovely lodge you have here Jeff." He complimented.

"The ranch was built in memory of my grandfather." Dad replied. "Anything to drink?"

"Erm... no wine?"

"Sorry, no." Dad shrugged. "Isa would throw me out if she caught me drinking."

"Hey, that's for your protection." I countered. "Unless you want to be Boris Yeltsin."

"No." He replied. "A glass of milk?"

"Sure, sure. At least I won't have my mind in a blender." He said. "If my wife caught me having a hangover after getting drunk she's not going to have me sleep in a room with her." I laughed in respond while dad sets down the glass of milk on the table. "But Jeff, it's nice to see you having a good relationship between you and your daughter." I remembered that dad had told me that Chancellor Merkel did not have any children with his wife although they were married but their relationship never faltered.

"We are. Ever since I adopted her as my daughter." He said.

"Where are the others again?" He asked. "Am I early?"

"Well, you are Mr. Chancellor." Dad replied.

"Dad, I think that you should get some coffee."

"And you?" He asked. "A cold brew?"

"If the coffee machine can make." I said.

"I know how to use it. Don't show me that doubtful expression." He said, leaving the kitchen. I was smiling as I watched him operate the machine. A few minutes later he sets two mugs on the table. "Cold brew matcha latte, your favorite."

"And your favorite espresso." I said. "Your normal coffee of choice."

"You two looked really close, Madam Vice President." I only smiled in respond to that. "So Jeff... President Reagan, what are we up against?" The chancellor asked.

"We believed that this is a coordinated attack, a declaration of war."

"Hold that thought for a second though." He stopped dad. "If so... why were the Russians involved as well?"

"Either the Russians are playing Russian Roulette, or the worst thoughts ahead, Operation North Woods." I pointed out. "Something from Kennedy's time."

"Wait a minute, Russians, attacking their own people so that they can go to war with the United States of America?"

"Seemed that way Chancellor Merkel." I said, folding my fingers and formed a temple below my jaw. "If so, shouldn't NATO themselves be alerted?"

"Russia feared NATO Isa." Dad said. "They wouldn't be that stupid right?"

"No sir. They won't. According to Article 5 in the North Atlantic Treaty it's suicide for Russia to try to invade." I said.

"Sir, the Japanese are here." Andrew reported, entering the room.