The Threat by David Poyer
Published by St. Martin's Press
305 pages
AMICABLE: Anybody here?
SCHOLAST: Been logged on since 0900. Where you?
AMICABLE: Reporter in office. Gone now.
SCHOLAST: How’s your day?
AMICABLE: Totally certain this wire secure?? Security monitoring? NSA?
And the story begins.
In this ninth book of the series, Naval Commander Dan Lenson accepts a post with the White House military staff. Dan’s capture and torture by Saddam’s Mukhabarat has resulted in injuries from which he has yet to fully recover. Dan had hoped for another command, but he could not pass up the opportunity to be director of threat reduction. However, he quickly learns that instead of directing the reduction of nuclear weapons contained in the former states of the Soviet Union, he is the director of counter narcotics. After mildly objecting to this assignment, the senior director quickly informs our protagonist that the White House directs his movements and that orders change, and can change quickly.
AMICABLE: Let’s get to it. The less time we’re online the better I’ll feel.
SCHOLAST: We’ve made progress. Brought concerned citizens aboard.
HELLGOD: What’s the code name?
SCHOLAST: There is no code name for this plan…It is prepared solely in case P gets out of hand….
From the back rooms of the White House, to Air Force One, and then onto Marine One, Dan accepts a myriad of assignments. With each new assignment, Dan becomes more and more disgruntled with Washington's ways of doing business. As a result of breaking their rules on more than one occasion, Dan finds himself removed from the action of the West Wing to the lack-luster East Wing, becoming the military aide to the President carrying the briefcase that contains the secret codes for a nuclear strike. The problem with this punishment is that Dan is now at the side of the man who he suspects of having an affair with his wife.
BLUE DANUBE: The candidate is motivated and moving into position…
HELLGOD: …how do we make him move? We need a name for [this guy]…
SCHOLAST: Call him Forthright.
BLUE DANUBE: The point is, HG, not so much to make Forthright do what we want as to make it believable afterward that he did.
But what is with the emails we find placed at the beginning of each story division? Who are these people and what are they planning? Who is P and who is the candidate?
If you like the military and political maneuvering, Poyer is for you. Although I became somewhat lost with the jargon, Poyer writes a good story. His knowledge of the military and politics makes the story very believable. But it should be since Poyer is recommended reading at the U.S. Naval Academy. The pace of the book assimilates the pace of White House life, that is until Dan puts all the pieces together. And then you're in for a quick exciting ride. It's like riding a roller coaster that starts off with the smaller hills, combined with a few loops, twists and turns, then a few more hills a little larger than before, saving the best thrill for last. The reader will recognize similar real life events and perhaps identify some of the numerous characters with those in contemporary politics. This is no nail biter by any means. But because of the way Poyer writes this story, it doesn't need to be one. Its Poyer's story telling and development that keeps the reader right in the palm of his hand.
