AN: This seems like a very unlikely occurrence but…eh…I need multiple 'villains' so…
In the basement of the school the Directors are seated around a small table. The Western Director begins, this is highly appropriate considering that he's the one that called this meeting,
"I don't like him." His voice bares an immediate distain for the man who had only a couple of hours earlier dismissed him almost entirely.
"No, you don't like how he operates. He doesn't play the game." The Director of Eastern Operations, a lean blonde woman in her late forties, keeps a flat emotionless tone as she both speaks and stares at the insufferable man who called this meeting to order ahead of schedule.
"Exactly, he doesn't respect the system." Western ignores her indifference as he nods in agreement to the second part of her comment.
"He's not really the president, just a temporary leader to help keep us united during this nightmare." The Director of Northern Operations, a short white haired man in his late sixties, reminds every one of the man in question's purpose.
"Any one of us could do what he does." Western scoffs at the idea that the arrogant man calling himself the president is actually necessary.
"You're right, but he didn't waste time debating over who would lead. He simply took command." Eastern almost seems to admire the man for his decisive actions and attitude…'A politician can't win a war for survival, it'll take a general.'
"He reunited us and reorganized our fight. Without his swift action we might not exist right now." Northern whole-heartedly agrees as he scratches his clean-shaven chin lightly.
"But now that he has stabilized things…" Western won't give up his attempt to convince the others that they must remove him now that the government is reasonably organized. But the final director, a dark haired man in his early fifties, speaks,
"No, we need to wait till he wins this war. Then we can reinstitute the old systems and have a proper election." His voice is by far more commanding than the others,
"Until then we must follow, while preparing for his graceful departure from office later on."
"And our ascent to power." Western quickly adds.
"Indeed." Southern has the final say on this matter.
"Sir, I like it when you put these politicians in their place, but is it wise to threaten them?" Cam's concern is reasonable and more than justified in a world were an assassination wouldn't be that difficult to carry out.
"They need to know that I have no intention whatsoever of creating any kind of political clout or garnishing favor with any of them. I'm here to win a war and save a people, nothing more." The younger man keeps his conviction as he takes his seat behind his desk.
"Some would call that a tall order, sir." Cam takes a seat on the small sofa against the wall to the president's left.
"And I call it serving these people, who have lost so much yet still hold onto hope. It truly is an inspiration." He rotates his chair to look out the window and stare at the slightly battered flag flying just outside.
"And what of this Major Vega?" Southern seeks further data on the second point that Western wished to discuss.
"She's only nineteen, yet is given a field command. It's ludicrous." Western throws up his hand as he speaks with disgust for such an action.
"It is a bit extreme, is there any reason why she has this post?" Northern wants actual hard evidence as to why she has such a post, not accepting her age as enough considering this war.
"She served in the California Militia after the first assaults. Only three weeks, then she was sent for Hell Training, like everyone else." Eastern begins reciting facts from her dossier from memory; she had wanted her to take part in the eastern offensive campaigns, but she was snatched away by Colonel Marlo and the president. She resumes her reciting,
"But she only spent two weeks in the program before she was shipped to Tulsa. And she was in the Arizona program."
"Arizona? Those bastards are the best we've got. Not everyone survives the training if I recall." Northern seems impressed by her just on that fact alone.
"Correct, the instructor pushes them harder than at any of the other facilities. But he gets results." Southern remembers not particularly liking the man, but then again not disagreeing with his methodology.
"So she's tough." Western speaks sarcastically not fully acknowledging that training program as anything special.
"And a charismatic leader, during the Dallas offensive she rallied scattered forces to aid in covering the retreat. Then again during that debacle of a retreat from Houston, if it wasn't for her we would have lost a lot more soldiers and ground than we did." Southern suddenly remembers seeing these facts in his after-action reports as Eastern continues to relay the major's impressive record,
"Of course that's nothing to her taking over the defense of Fort Worth after the general was killed and his ranking staff were classified as MIA. She held for seven days against a force twenty times their size, only retreating when a carrier was inbound." She still can't believe one so young could accomplish so much.
"A few of the veteran soldiers say there's this aura to her, like she's haunted by a ghost of war." Northern isn't a superstitious man, but has seen a similar aura before in certain soldiers.
"Nonsense, this is not the time to discuss superstition. We need hard facts." Western is all too eager to bite at him for his seemingly pointless statement.
"Once she was transferred back out west she lead a few opts in tangent with northern forces with great success." Eastern's statement is confirmed by Northern nodding.
"It would seem that under further review Major Vega is a far more competent officer than you gave her credit for." Southern's eyes are fixed on Western as he speaks.
"I advise we not be so quick to question the president's choices in command officials." Eastern is rarely impressed by anyone, but this girl has certainly impressed her.
"Agreed, we'll allow him to handle the war. It's what he's good at, we'll take care of the domestic issues." Southern stands as he continues,
"All in favor?"
"Aye." Northern and Eastern as well as Southern are in agreement. Seeing that he's out numbered Western agrees as well,
"Aye." Though his is filled with bile and disgust.
"Then it is unanimous that we will not seek to alter the president's battle strategy without overwhelming cause." Southern's commanding voice is only intensified by his stature and hard eyes.
Standing at the makeshift memorial wall just outside the HQ Captain West stares at a single name scratched into a plate of steel. Major Vega approaches her from behind making sure to allow her boots to create subtle noises as not to startle her when she asks,
"How are you holding up, Captain?" She takes up position on Jade's right.
"I am, ma'am. It's not easy losing your best friend." She has a slight tremor as she speaks and her eyes are still a little puffy. Tori opens her mouth to speak then pauses, reconsidering her choice in words,
"…Jade, I'm not going to hand you the standard platitudes, because he was my friend too. And I feel like shit, so I can't even imagine how you feel." She places her hand on her shoulder and squeezes lightly as she looks over at her. Jade breaks her stare at the name and brings her eyes over to meet Tori's,
"You're lack of sleep would disagree with you, ma'am-Tori. I can see it in your eyes. The pain, it's obvious. It's the same after…" Her voice begins to fade as she looks down, remembering that she only lost her best friend…while Tori lost both her parents in one night. Tori drops her hand and begins to rub the back of her head with her opposite hand as,
"Yeah, I haven't been sleeping much… and yes it's exactly like back then." Her voice drops in volume as it takes a much graver tone despite her efforts not to. Jade castes a look back up at the wall,
"Except now you have the fate of hundreds of soldiers in your hands." She lets her eyes ghost over multiple casualties. Tori looks at the wall, not at any one name in particular or even one at all just the wall itself and the meaning of the sum total of sacrifices made,
"It certainly isn't making it easier, but it's my cross to bear." Jade brings her eyes back around to Tori,
"You don't have to bear it alone, Tori. I'm here for you." She places her hand on Tori's shoulder and gently turns her so that they are more-or-less facing each other. Tori shakes her head,
"That really doesn't help, especially when I have to send you into battle knowing full well that there is a good chance you won't return."
"Would you rather be worrying about me fighting in some other state, not knowing for hours whether or not I'm alive?" Jade's voice is filled with conviction as she herself couldn't stand the thought of not knowing Tori's fate for that long.
"No, but…" She tries to continue but is swiftly cut off,
"At least we get to be together here." Jade has taken Tori's hands in her own and begins gently caressing her knuckles with her thumbs. Tori smiles, surrendering,
"I really wish I could have fallen in love with you before all this." Jade smiles back,
"Me too, Tori. Me too." She leans in and kisses her gently before turning to face the makeshift memorial wall and then placing her head on Tori's shoulder. Tori wraps her arm around Jade's back and rests her hand on her opposite shoulder, then rests her head on Jade's while smiling weakly. They stare at the wall in silence as the moon beams down on them.
AN: This was a little shorter than I'm used to writing, but I thought this last scene was a great way to end the chapter and just couldn't think of anything that would top it, so I hope you enjoyed.
And fighting will return in the next chapter...