by Ira Tabankin
“Sir, please do everything possible to speed up the process, you’ll start to lose your major supporters if you keep delaying the elections.”
“I want someone to cancel my press conference today and issue a press release saying we do NOT believe God is behind the rivers turning red. It’s an unknown natural occurrence, one we’re working on.”
“Yes, sir.”
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At the same time the Northern President is meeting with his cabinet, Jay is meeting in the Shelter’s conference room with his key advisors.
Fred kicks off the meeting on a low note,
“Jay, none of us believe you should continue your tour of the Confederacy to hold town hall meetings. You’ll be almost unprotect-able, you’ll be out in the open, in small and large venues. Your security team is already shitting bricks. I have their report right here, the summary is very short, it says, and I quote, “There’s no way to protect the President in these venues. We strongly suggest the President cancel his meetings until we have time to select venues we can secure.”
“I’ve heard the same story many times. If all of you had your way, I wouldn’t leave the shelter. I have to show my face; I owe it to the people who voted to secede. I have to show them we’re different from regular politicians. We need their input and feedback. I want them to feel they have a say in what we’re doing.”
Fred smiles, nodding his head,
“Says the man who promises he’s not running for office. You sure sound like a politician to me.”
Jay throws a paper cup at Fred who easily ducks so it doesn’t strike him.
“Jay, you should move around to our side of the table and listen to yourself, out of one side of your mouth words come out saying, you’re not running, and the other side says you are. Which is it? If you’re not running, why do you need to do meet and greets? Why do you want to press the flesh? Only someone running for office does that. You have to decide which side of the table you’re sitting at. Your protective detail is charged with protecting you, right now you are the face of the Confederacy, if something happens to you, there is a good chance the Confederacy will fail. Either you’re running and almost assured of winning a landslide victory, or back out now, do it very publicly so there’s no confusion and cancel your town hall meetings. If you’re not running, you have no reason to hold town hall meetings. You have to decide and do so quickly.”
“I…”
Tony shakes his head, “Jay, before you say anything else, answer the core question, are you going to run for the office or not?”
“Do I really have to decide right now?”
General Arthur responds, “Yes you do, it sets the tone for your upcoming meetings. We and the people need to know. It will be the first question you're asked. If you don’t answer it, no one is going to listen to anything else you have to say. If you don’t tell us your decision, we’re not going to continue with the planning meeting. The time has come for you to decide and stand by your decision.”
“Shit, you’re serious aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am. We’re trying to form a new nation; we can’t waste resources on face time for someone who’s going to ride out their current term. On the other hand, if you’re going to run, we’ll be there to support you one hundred percent.”
“Which way would you like to see me go?”
“We’ve agreed not to say anything until you tell us first. The next move is in your hands, and it has to be made now.”
Turning to look at every face around the table, Jay knows he’s been maneuvered into making a decision he didn’t want to make, at least without consulting with Lacy.
“I hear you, I would like to have a private talk with the current first lady, can we pick this up in thirty minutes?”
Fred nods for everyone in the room. Jay stands, shaking his head, he leaves his advisors and friends in the conference room so he can talk to Lacy. Entering her room, he smiles, seeing she’s awake.
“Hi babe, how are you doing?”
“For someone who’s been run over, not bad. What are you doing here? I thought you were in a staff meeting to plan your town hall meetings. What happened?”
“We were, Fred threw me a curve ball, he and my best friends decided I had to decide and announce if I was going to run for office. Fred said if I wasn’t, there was no need for me to go on the road, if I was, it changed things. They want an answer within,” checking his watch, “twenty-five minutes.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I can’t make my final decision without talking to you.”
“Good try, I’m not going to make your decision for you. You have to make it yourself. I’m good with either way you decide.”
“Are you serious? I thought you hated the political BS.”
“I do, however, I can’t think of anyone else who can change the system as quickly as you. The country looks up to you, you’re now the face of the Confederacy, if you lead the people down a moral and just path, they’ll follow you. I think you should do it. You led our new country through her birth pains, if not you, who else could be elected first President? Do you want the Confederacy to turn into a country just like the North?”
“You know I don’t.”
“Then tell Fred yes and get it over with. You’re not going to be happy if someone you dislike wins the election. The people like you, they trust you. If you’re going to run, this is the time to announce and begin the process. Form a new party and make a real change, make our new country into something that’s worth the cost the people are paying for it.”
“Will you go on the road with me?”
“Like this? I look like half a mummy.”
“I think mummies are sexy.”
“Go back to your meeting and let me get some rest. The doc is taking good care of me. He said I’ll be discharged in a few days.”
“What about your arm?”
“It’ll remain in a cast for a while. He’s going to see about finding me a glass eye when my face heals.”
“I’m so sorry about your eye.”
“Why? You didn’t do anything. You didn’t drop the bombs; you didn’t fly the drone. We both know who’s responsible. Before this is over I want you to make him pay.”
“I promise you, I will make him pay. He’ll pay for every injury, for every person he killed.”
“Now go tell the others, it’s time you grew up and got a real job.”
“That’s a real job?”
“Yes, get out of here and make it happen.”
“Yes, dear. I can see who’s running the new White House.”
“You bet I will be.”
Jay leans over kissing Lacy’s forehead.
Keeping a poker face, Jay returns to the conference room. Everyone else is still in their seats. Fred looks up at his friend,
“You’re right on time, do you have something to tell us and the rest of the country?”
“I do; I’ve decided to run for the office.”
The room erupts in clapping and smiles. Fred hugs his friend,
“You saved me. I know you will save our new country.”
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work; my goal is to create the Confederacy in the spirit America’s founders created the United States, however, in this new world, women will not be treated as baby carrying home makers with no rights to vote or state their opinions; that was a product of their time. We have become enlightened beyond their men only society, mentality. Our country will be committed to real freedoms where the national government is as small as we can make it. Let’s not make the same mistakes the North made, every office will have term limits. It’s time we work for the people and not the other way around.”
General Arthur looks at Jay and Fred,
“Mr. President, the military is one hundred percent behind you.”
Chapter 11
China’s new Premier, Mao Dejiang agrees to the latest outline from the Confederacy. He sends his ambassador to inf
orm the Northern American President of his intent to sign agreements with the Confederacy. He smiles, thinking of the anger this will incite with the Northern President; he can’t think of another person he dislikes more than their current President. The Chinese Ambassador is shown into the Oval Office where the President and Secretary of State are waiting for him.
When he sees the Chinese Ambassador smiling, the President smiles, he relaxes hoping the Chinese Ambassador is here to offer a new idea to break the stalemate between the two countries. He hopes he can reach an agreement to end the quarrel with China, returning Hawaii to the union so he can retire there.
“Mr. Ambassador, you honor us.”
“Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, I have been asked by the Premier to deliver you a message.”
“Please be seated, would you like some coffee or tea?”
“Thank you, no, it won’t be necessary.”
“Fine, the floor is all yours, we’re waiting to hear your message. We hope we can now settle our differences.”
“Mr. President, Premier Dejiang has asked me to inform you we are going to recognize the Southern American country you call the Confederacy. The Premier plans on signing a series of trade and military cooperation agreements with their President within a fortnight.”
“He what? I thought you were coming to inform us you’ve accepted our terms and you were going to leave Hawaii.”
“Ah, Mr. President, the issue of Hawaii is settled. We have no intention of returning Hawaii; now or ever. You still owe us over $6 trillion dollars. Shall we absorb additional American land in exchange for your debt?”
“What additional land?”
“We like the island of Manhattan, or there’s the state of Florida.”
“I thought you were trying to take over the State of California.”
“We will take it over; the people are preparing for the upcoming election. Our offer of free college education, a job for everyone who desires one and rent control is resounding very well in the Golden State. We expect to annex it within six months.”
“We won’t allow you to do that.”
“What are you going to use to block us? Most of your mighty, yet downsized, military has or is in the process of moving South. It appears they like the Confederacy better than your dictator-like reign here in the North. Soon, all you may have left is your National Guard.”
“We’ll have more than enough to stop you on the beaches of California.”
“If we were stupid enough to try a beach landing, you might be able to stop us. However, we have no intention of landing on California beaches. We don’t have to, we’ve been invited into the state, by the state’s people to take over the failing government of California.”
“Doesn’t that make us even?”
“Only on the principal, there’s still the interest on the notes that has to be paid.”
“Interest? Our banks interest rate is close to zero.”
“Maybe that’s true of your banks, but not for the money you borrowed. You committed to paying us a fixed interest rate and the Premier has informed me he intends to collect every Yuan of it. You owe the Chinese people over $2 trillion of unpaid interest. Interest we intend to collect one way or the other.”
The Secretary of State senses the meeting is slipping out of control interrupts asking, “Can you share with us the details of your treaty with the Confederacy? I hope you’re aware that we consider the Confederacy a breakaway group of states which we plan to bring back under a single flag.”
“Ah, you mean you consider the Confederacy as we think of Taiwan, which we will bring back into the fold of the People’s Republic.”
“The two aren’t exactly the same in our eyes.”
“Such a shame, we won’t share the details of our treaties except to say they cover trade, investments, and military programs.”
“What in the world will you be getting from a treaty with our rebels?” Asks the President.
“Not too much, other than docking rights in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, I think we’re going to have basing rights to at least two naval facilities, one of them Norfolk and of course, there’s the trade and sharing of certain military technologies.” The Chinese Ambassador smirks, driving the knife into the President’s back while twisting it.
“You wouldn’t dare give the rebels advanced military technologies, I forbid you anywhere near Norfolk!”
“In fact, I believe we’re buying some from them. I think some were considered too advanced for trade with your allies. Mr. President, the Navy base at Norfolk is now under another country’s flag, how can you block us from docking there?” The Ambassador smiles at the President.
“You can’t, I won’t permit it!”
“Mr. President, I should warn you, an attack by you on the Confederacy will be treated an attack on the People’s Republic. We will respond with the same force as if you attacked our people.”
“You wouldn’t risk your cities for a group of unwashed rebels.”
“Are you willing to risk the balance of your country on that question? Are you willing to double down on your bet? Considering that some of our Naval units will be less than three hundred miles from this very house, are you willing to risk the consequences of an attack?”
The Ambassador smiles a shark’s smile at the President, who’s thinking, the son of a bitch thinks he has me over a barrel, he thinks he can squeeze my balls and get away with it anytime he wants to. I’ll teach him. I’ll position a battle group in the South China Sea blocking any move they make against Taiwan, and if we can move quickly enough, there won’t be anything left of the Confederacy for them to sign agreements with. I need to deal with Tolson tonight. He won’t be expecting an attack. The President smiles at the Chinese Ambassador.
“I think I understand your government’s position, thank you for briefing me in person.”
The Ambassador and President stand to shake hands. After he’s escorted out of the White House, the President looks at the Secretary of State,
“John, we have to make our move against Tolson ASAP. We have to do it before the Chinese sign their damn treaty with him. If we don’t take him out before the Chinese sign their treaty with him, we’re going to have the damn Chinese military on our land and their ships as close as Norfolk. They could strike the White House from their berths in Virginia.”
“Want me to get Carter over here?”
“Let’s get him on the phone.”
The President picks up the red phone on his desk,
“Mr. Secretary, I want to take out Tolson ASAP, what can we do?”
“Mr. President, can you define, ASAP, like within a month, a couple of months, a year? We’re very short on resources right now. Most of our military has sided with the Confederacy, we’ve lost almost all of our special operating forces, and most of our long-range bombers. He has the majority of our forces, even the damn Battleship, which was in the Gulf, it’s moving around the southern tip of Florida, my staff is worried she could be moving up the East Coast to get into a position where she could launch cruise missiles at us. He’s built anti-air missile batteries around his farm, he has fighters flying CAP over the farm. He also has AWACS flying; we won’t be able to strike him from the air. If we used missiles, we’d need many of them and we don’t have a surface to surface missile with the range to reach his farm from our land.”
“Can we stop the Battleship? What assets do we have to block her? She’s equipped with cruise missiles; we can’t allow her to get close enough to strike us. You need to stop her.”
“Sir, nothing we have can go against a Battleship and survive.” Pausing a minute, “Maybe, just maybe a submarine attack could stop her.”
“Yes, I like this idea, they won't even know an attack boat is in the area. How soon can you launch the attack? And what are you going to do about Tolson?”
“I can get a sub moving within an hour, hitting Tolson is a different matter. Sir, we’re not allowed to target another countr
y’s leaders.”
“He’s not the leader of a real country, the Confederacy is part of America.”
“Sir, the people voted, and you accepted their secession, that makes him the President of a foreign nation. There are laws on the books forbidding us from doing what you’re ordering me to do.”
“No one will know.”
“Yes they will, you’ll be instigating an all out Civil War; one we can’t win. He inherited our best forces. We need a couple of years to rebuild.”
“I don’t think you understand; we don’t have a couple of years. In a couple of months, the Chinese will be camped out on our border. Who would you rather fight? The Confederacy or the Chinese? I want him gone before he and the Chinese sign a treaty. Doesn’t he go anywhere? Can’t you sneak some Special Forces into the Confederacy and make the attack look like an act of domestic terrorism?”
