Chapter 29 (The President)
The walk to her office took half an hour through the lush green parks and the spectacular views the city had to offer. Her long-time assistant, 'Harry,' struggled to keep pace as he trotted behind. The President knew she was in better shape then rest of her staff. While the others took shuttle cars and transports, she used her legs. She liked it that way. It showed her confidence and her ability to steer the human race in any direction she saw fit.
Once she crossed the calm street, she inquired about her day's events. "I want to run a test of the new cyborg warriors." The President explained. "Select a Minbari colony and set one of those things loose on it."
"But Madam President," Harry explained, exhausted. "Their operating systems haven't been updated. They'll kill everything!"
"Good, then it should be an excellent test. I believe Sheridan has arrived in the city?"
The young assistant pulled out a device the size of a cigarette lighter and it opened into a holographic data pad. Once he discovered that it was upside down, he turned it around and began searching the database.
The President grew impatient and craned her neck over the wall to see if anyone was eavesdropping. So far nobody was around and the bright sky warmed the chilly air. She was given a reason for the chilly air; the shield in the farming dome that was linked to the main city had lost its insulation barrier for a few hours, so all the heat had seeped out into hyperspace. The change in temperature caused the air to swirl, which was uncomfortable for the President, but she found it interesting.
"I found him Madam President," Harry said cheerfully. "He logged himself in two hours ago and his vessel is currently being repaired in port seventy-seven. It should take a few days until he is ready to go back out."
"Good," the President replied, walking into the central building and out of the chilly air. "I think he'll make an interesting candidate for this mission."
Once the President was settled inside her office, the assistant continued to lay out her daily routines. Something she felt tired of, but it was necessary. Speeches were an evil task she had to perform day in and day out, but her people needed a firm figure to guide them though the hard times. She knew everything relied on her and she made sure to live up to expectations.
Several hours later, the big meeting was on. Sheridan was called away from his wife and the President assumed that he would be happy to be given a command of his own to strike back against the Minbari. However, when he walked into the office, she was not impressed with the manner in which he conducted himself.
"Madam President, why have you taken me away from my wife? Don't you know I have two weeks of leave due me?" He spoke in a scolding tone with sarcasm layered over it.
She shuffled a few items on the desk and sat down, not making eye contact. "Yes I'm aware of your situation. But I have a mission for you, something you might be interested in."
"The only thing I am interested in is being at home with my wife. Not playing some catch me up with official bureaucrats."
The President raised her head and looked directly at Sheridan. She did not like his attitude at all. Perhaps I chose the wrong person.
Then to make matters worse, the commander continued to spit out his demands. She could do nothing but wait patiently as the sky vehicles whizzed passed her window and the air grew stale and hot.
"I'm not interested. I have two weeks of leave and I intend to take it. Then you can put me on whatever mission you want."
The President snapped. "Do I need to remind you Sheridan, that you work in the defense force at my convenience. It's not wise to refuse my orders!"
"You need not."
"Then why are you making snap judgments on something you don't even know? You might want to do this mission."
"I doubt it." Sheridan leaned back on the chair and appeared to think about her last comment. "So, what is this job?"
The President smiled. "You're going to take a lone ship to a Minbari colony and drop off a special package."
Sheridan raised his eyebrow and looked curiously at the President. "What kind of special package?"
The President hoped that Sheridan had enough hate to postpone his leave and accept this mission. She preferred not to threaten him. She finally spoke. "A soldier."
"A soldier?" he asked. "How is one man going to take out a whole Minbari colony? And what do you need me for?"
"The only thing I'm willing to tell you is that it's your job to record everything that happens down there." She stood up and walked towards the window. "The rest is on a need to know basis. It prevents the Minbari from finding out."
As always, Sheridan was fast to add his sarcastic comment into the mix; even before the President had the chance to turn away from the window and look at him, he began. "That figures."
Sheridan shuffled in his seat and stared back towards the President. "With all due respect, ma'am, I have to decline. I just got back from a difficult mission and it's been a long time since I've seen my wife Anna. It would be wrong for me to jump at the next job that wants my attention."
The President felt annoyed at this hard-nosed individual. He was not going to dictate his needs today. So she decided to lay down the rules to this meeting. She was the boss and he'd better get in line...
She walked over to her table, sat down and laid her hands on the desk and looked into his eyes. Her words came out firm and stern, like a headmaster in a meeting with disobedient student.
"This is not open for discussion. I'm putting you in command of the Agamemnon and you're going to that Minbari colony. You will record the results and return with the data." She stood, walked around the table and added. "If you don't, you can forget any promotion and I'll make sure your cozy home is revoked... This is no time for 'I want, I get tactics.' That's the attitude that started this war!"
Sheridan finally gave in. "Looks like I have no choice. Who's my second?"
The President wasn't sure on his name, so she quickly glanced at the holographic data pad. "You'll have Captain Jankowski serving under your command."
Sheridan jumped from his chair. "Him! That sniveling excuse of a man! He's the bastard who started this damn war in the first place. And didn't he kill himself at the beginning of the war?"
"That's on a need to know basis too."
The President felt the temperature rise in the room and continued as calm as she could. "I'm well aware of his past involvement, but we do not have anyone experienced to carry out the job." She crossed her arms and spoke with some compassion. "Everybody knows that he started this war and caused the destruction of Earth, but now he's determined to do something good. I'm sorry, Sheridan, but we just don't have the manpower to do this mission."
"Something good?" Sheridan snapped. "That son-of-a-bitch should be shot! Why is he even alive?"
The President grew tired. She had allowed the heated debate to carry on longer than it was necessary. Time to put a cap on things.
"That's enough Sheridan," she said in her own Earth shattering tone. "You will take the Agamemnon to the Minbari colony world. You will deploy the weapon. And you will record the results and return with the data."
"Do I make myself clear?"
Sheridan made a rude noise with his throat and replied with, "Yes, ma'am." The tone was as angrily as possible.
When the President was finally alone, she gracefully closed all the scattered holographic pads on her desk, strolled over to the alcohol cabinet and made herself a small Jovian Sunspot and rolled the tumbler in her hand. She was confident in her choice, although she imagined Sheridan killing his 'second in command' the first chance he got. Serves the bastard right for starting the war anyway. But she hoped they would get the mission done first.
It wasn't a perfect plan, but she waited with high hopes for the mission progress, due in a few weeks. The President sipped her drink, then turned back to the rest of her work. Even with such an interesting mission, she still had a city to run, after all.
