DISCLAIMER: The content of this post, and the beliefs expressed by the individuals within, do not reflect the beliefs of me the author. This is written for Cold War Powers - an online role-playing community where we take the roles of world leaders in the Cold War, and as such accurate roleplay requires the discussion of beliefs that are quite frankly abhorrent. For the benefit of those who do not wish to read about these events, a brief summary will be included at the end of the post.

Trigger Warnings: racism, anti-Semitism, terrorism

March 1st, 1954

Washington, DC

Across the nation, March first would seem like simply any other day. That would change unforgettably, however, when millions of Americans turned on their televisions to the nightly news, and learned of the worst act of terror to unfold in the history of the American government.

March 2nd, 1954

Washington, DC

Attorney General Nixon and FBI Director Hoover looked over the scene before them in abject disbelief.

The scene itself was beyond anything they had ever seen before. Bullet holes seemed to pock every surface in sight, blood had stained many of the chairs the same color as the carpet below, and the American Seal in the speaker's podium was utterly reduced to shrapnel. Truly it was a miracle fewer people were not hurt - if the session had not been at only half capacity, it would be impossible to imagine the carnage that may have unfolded.

"Jesus Christ..." Nixon muttered.

"Trust me Dick," Hoover replied, "Jesus was not in the building yesterday."

Despite being the single greatest attack on the American government since the Civil War, the identities of the attackers and their motives were never in doubt. Three had, in fact, been captured almost immediately, with the fourth found while trying to flee the city on a train. Thus the 'investigative' job of the FBI today was not focused on the 'who' or the 'why', but rather the 'how' - how were these terrorists able to so easily bring weapons of war into Congress and commit such heinous acts?

Hoover looked around at the virtual army of FBI inspectors around him, before settling on a man close to him. "You there," he pointed, "come here."

The man, hearing Hoover's voice, snapped to attention and quickly made his way over.

"What's your name, son?"

"Mark Felt, sir. Assistant to Agent Gibson, sir."

"Very good. So tell us, Mr. Felt, what have you determined about the nature of what happened here?"

Felt began to sweat under the gaze of the most terrifying man in American government. "Well, sir, the scene truly speaks for itself, it was a massacre."

"No you fool," Hoover sighed, "the investigation, what have you all found so far?"

"Oh, well, if you don't mind me saying so, sir, it's almost shocking that this sort of thing has not happened already. Security here at the Capital is extremely lax - from what we can tell, the four gunmen simply kept their guns and ammo in briefcases as they came in, and were not approached once between entering the building and reaching the Ladies' Gallery."

With that last word, Felt pointed at the balcony where the shooters made their attack from. With a full view of the entire room, they would have had the perfect vantage point for hitting as many people as possible. Truly a miracle that they were not trained militiamen - a skilled fire team with automatic weapons could have killed far more than just two men from there.

"Based on the pattern of fire," Felt continued, becoming more confident the more he spoke, "they had mostly focused their shooting on the speaker's podium and the Great Seal behind it. Honestly I don't think they even meant to shoot anybody, at least not as their primary goal."

Hoover betrayed no expression. "So you mean to tell me that they shot fifty-nine people by accident?"

"Well sir, I was present for Agent Gibson's interrogation of the shooters, and they don't seem the killing type. If I had to posit a guess, I would say they intended to make a symbolic gesture, coming into the heart of American governance and showing what they could have done should they have wished. But the weapons they used - Spanish C96s - have some nasty kick, and likely the men and woman who did the shooting were not practiced in controlling the recoil, which caused them to fire wildly and hit so many Congressmen. I am certain they do not regret shooting them, but I would seriously doubt that such a massacre was their intention. If it was, far more than two would have died."

Hoover said nothing, but offered a grunt and a nod in approval. Felt responded with a sort of half-salute, before becoming unsure if such a gesture was necessary, and finally deciding to simply nod back and return to his work.

After a moment of though, Hoover turned back to Nixon. "I have to agree with that assessment. We are truly lucky that this was not worse than it already is."

"Jay," Nixon replied, "these were probably men from the same group that took some shots at Truman a few years back. How the hell have we not been tracking them more closely?"

"Oh that's enough Dick, you know we don't have the capacity to be monitoring every single minor group across the United States at any given time. We've been tracking their activities on the island, and simply missed a minor group stateside."

"A minor group?!" Nixon had to keep himself from shouting. "Jay, these guys just made our body politic into swiss cheese!"

Hoover narrowed his eyes. "You're starting to sound a lot like Disney now, Dick, it's a bad look on you."

"And what if I am? Maybe he has a point - you claim to be so instrumental to the security of our nation, but in the last week we've had Einstein killed by some damn kid with a suitcase bomb and a group of fucking [slur] shoot up the fucking Capital! What the hell are you even preventing?"

"I would shut your damn mouth if I were you, Dick." Hoover sneered, dropping his voice. "I am the only thing standing between our nation and the Communist threat - I know Disney talks a big talk, but he's a fucking reactionary. One kid decides to grow a pair and stick it to the Jews and he's already passing laws, and now I'm hearing that he is already talking about some damn autonomy grant for the Puerto Ricans because of this flash in the pan!"

"Flash in the pan?! Jay, people are dead!"

"And what the hell do you think is going to happen now? If Disney keeps passing bills and making orders every time some fucking [slur] pops someone in the head, you can bet we will see every [slur], [slur], and [slur], from New York to L.A. setting off bombs and shooting politicians! You can't let actions from subversives drive your policy, or you legitimize them!"

Despite the cacophony of work going on in the room, it seemed to fall silent as Hoover raised his voice, understanding the power that he wielded in DC. Nixon, however, would not be intimidated, perhaps emboldened by the actions of his President the week previous.

"Jay," Nixon said, returning his voice to normal level and pitch, "I think you should go and take the rest of the day off."

Hoover scoffed. "Excuse me? This is my crime scene Dick, my Bureau."

"Under my Department, Jay. So that's an order, go home."

Hoover looked ready to explode, but deciding against it so publicly, instead turned to his deputy. "Clyde," he grumbled, "go start up the car."

Clyde Tolson, his deputy, nodded and rushed away. Hoover then turned back to Nixon. "I would watch yourself, Dick. Disney is popular now, but mark my words, that man is not meant for the office, and the people will see that soon enough."

Nixon betrayed no emotion. "See you around, Jay," he forced before turning away, and back over to Mark Felt. "Mr. Felt, about your theory..."

SUMMARY: AG Nixon and FBI Director Hoover discuss the terror attack at the US capital, and get into an argument about the political ramifications behind the attack - and what a response should look like. Hoover insinuates that responding to attacks like this with concessions will only legitimize further political violence, Nixon is offended by Hoover taking public political positions in opposition to him and Disney and sends him home.