Saturday
September 3, 2101 A.D.

Operation Smoke Out

It was twelve o’clock, noon. One hundred high-ranking military, intelligence, Secret Service, and civic police force leaders had packed into the conference room at the Department of Homeland Security, located in the western wing of the House of Light. Negon Bush ran the governmental affairs of the nation from this building, located in the District of Power of Las Vegas, a one square-mile sector of city level 28. 
The president entered the room and sat down at the head of the table, next to Beem Cheney. Cheney, like Bush, came from a powerful family dynasty and shared Bush’s social and economic beliefs and goals, excepting that he was not as devoted and fanatical a Christian as the president. These two families had worked closely together in business and government for one hundred years. In 2101 A.D., the two men owned dozens of oil production, weapons manufacturing, food and beverage production and distribution, and private equity investment corporations, whose stock was traded on the open market worldwide. International travel had all but ceased in the 22nd century due to exorbitant costs and extreme risk, however, international economic activity continued prolifically across fiber-optic cables that ran underground and under ocean waters;  tens of thousands of satellites orbited the Earth uselessly, rendered inoperable by the extreme electrical activity of the global storms circling the planet.
Cheney leaned towards Bush and inconspicuously handed the president a small pillbox. “This is from a drug seizure this morning. It’s primo stuff,” he winked at his friend.
Bush opened the container, withdrew a black ice crystal, pulled a tissue out of his uniform, held it in front of his face and inhaled the drug covertly. Content, he leaned back in his chair. “Thanks, Beem,” said Bush quietly, grinning and glassy-eyed. He was unable to sit through meetings like this without being high.
“You’re welcome,” said Cheney, with a heavy tongue. Despite the lunchtime hour, he already stank of bourbon.
Bush adjusted the microphone on the table in front of him, tapping it to test the sound. The room fell into silence.
“Lady and Gentlemen,” began Bush, still seated, “as you all know, the terrorist organization Free Vegas has become increasingly vocal in its opposition to my administration in recent months. We’re now talking about over eighty thousand suspected members. They have formed tens of thousands of autonomous terrorist cells. These cells don’t know one another and have very limited direct communication with one another. They operate independently right up until they commit a terrorist act.” Bush took a sip of water and continued. “Their leader is known as ‘Cloud Base,’ but nobody knows his true identity. The primary objective of these tree-huggers is to remove me from office by any means necessary, after which they’ll incite a revolution, hoping to radically reform American society and free market economy. Free Vegas seems to enjoy support throughout the entire population. People with a simple nature tend to sympathize with these greeno-commies. It is of the utmost importance that we destroy this organization before the move to New Vegas. Next Wednesday, we will carry out Operation Smoke Out, which will call on these terrorists to start the revolution. When the Free Vegas revolutionaries answer this call, you and your men will be waiting for them. They will be exterminated,” Bush slammed his fist down on the table, “like the vile bugs that they are!”
The room broke into thunderous applause. Bush paused, looking to his right where Special Agent Sadina Rice sat. She nervously returned his gaze. Bush continued, “I now present to you all Special Agent Sadina Rice, on assignment with the Department of Homeland Security. Special Agent Rice will be commanding the operation. Ms. Rice, why don’t you stand up and be recognized.”