OPERATION: CLEAN SWEEP by AlaskanFan
Season 1
Rated: PG-13
In Savior, Amanda mentions Lee as a friend who's made a bad choice – not specifically a friend from work. In Fearless Dotty, Amanda ends her lunch with Dotty saying that she needs to turn in some typing at the office. So, sometime between those two episodes, Amanda openly starts typing for IFF. This story gives one possibility for that change.
BACKGROUND: In "I Am Not Now Nor Have I Ever Been… A Spy," we learn snippets of information about San Cardenza. The rough fellows at the opening of the show are loyalists to the previous government. They are opposed to the current government's close association with the U.S. government. There is no hint of how long ago Polo de Gregorio took power, but it was long enough to imprison or exile many of his enemies or their family members. It was also long enough for him to acquire three planes, a locomotive, a mine sweeper and a submarine. On his visit, he was scheduled to tour a "San Cardenza exile neighborhood school" suggesting that those exiles have been in the U.S. for some years. I will call them rebels, loyalists or exiles.
San Cardenza
February 20, 1984
Polo de Gregorio frowned as he walked in his elegant garden. He didn't notice the sculpted shrubs, brilliant blooms, or crafted waterfalls. He needed to think, and thinking is hard work. He was a man of action – led by his passion, able to inspire (or terrorize) those who worked for him. But relations with the United States required strategy worthy of a master chess player, so he must think.
The current U.S. President was a simple man, like himself. He saw the world in clear terms of "us" versus "them." For the U.S. President, "us" was always the United States and its allies, versus "them" which was always the Soviet Union and its allies. Whenever a small country like San Cardenza needed American aid, any hesitation by the U.S. government to provide that aid would magically disappear if de Gregorio even hinted that perhaps the communists would be more forthcoming. This was especially easy if the word "Cuba" was mentioned in conversation. Yes, yes, he knew the right strategy with the current President.
His visitor today – he had to look at her business card to remember her name – that's it, Geraldine Fellalo, was running as the Vice Presidential candidate for the opposing party. He snorted in derision at the foolishness of allowing women so much power. Everyone knows that women are weak and easily confused. This one thinks that reasoning with rebels would be a better solution than guns and prisons and absolute control. Negotiation – PAH! He spat in distaste as he thought about her proposal. Sitting at a table seeking compromise – utter nonsense! No, there was really no choice between the political opponents. His only challenge was ensuring that this Ms. Fellalo and her party would not win the election in November. He swished his riding crop vigorously in his agitation. He needed a plan!