Disclaimer: Shondaland/ABC blah blah blah.
NO-Mellie and NO-Joke: Public Service Announcement for any accidental non-Olitz readers
Also this story will dive into lots of preaching, WTF and sharks ahoy!
Morning Talk Show…
"…Days before the Congressional Hearing on Police and Judicial Misconduct, we have more news of the law giving police the right to violate our civil liberties…
"Since 2008, the police have spent $2.8 billion on expensive coffee machines, and black-tie dinners. Where did they get that money, you ask? They got that money from us, Mr and Ms Average Tax Payer, but that money wasn't for café lattes, no that money was allocated by the government to catch criminals…
"And if that wasn't bad enough, we have daylight robbery on top of the rorting. The Justice Department has a so-called Equitable Sharing Program which lets the police keep up to 80 per cent of the cash they take off you in a highway stop and seizure. Guess who gets the other 20 per cent, yep, the Justice Department. Sure sounds equitable to me. Especially when the victims of police 'Robbing Hoods' have to sign a waiver that they won't sue to get their money back…"
In the Oval Office Dining Room, Fitz flicked through a report, reading facts and figures out loud. "Under the Equitable Sharing Program, there have been 61,998 cash seizures since 9/11. They've collected more than $2.5 billion. Of this total the states and local authorities kept $1.7 billion and the Justice, Homeland and the other Fed agencies got $800 million. From what this says, the money was taken without search warrants or indictments."
"The key word there is 9/11," Cyrus muttered, pouring more coffee into his cup, the dark liquid slopping onto the saucer under Fitz's inimical stare. "The Equitable Sharing Program was meant to get state and local police to be the nation's 'eyes and ears of homeland security on America's highways'."
"But without oversight, they've become the Robbing Hoods of the Highway." Fitz pushed the folder away and rubbed a hand over his face. "I keep inheriting the sins of my forebears that I didn't even know existed. How many more are going to surface before the Hearing even begins?"
"It's what will surface during the Hearing that worries me. With an election on the horizon, this is not the time for America to get a wake-up call. I'm worried they'll shoot the messenger with their votes."
Barely had Cyrus paused, than a National Security Advisor stormed into the room looking a little harassed, "Sir, we have a problem." He grabbed the remote and switched the television on.
"Breaking News… we're getting reports from our Africa bureau chief that two car bombs have gone off at the US Embassies in Manzania and Denya…"
Fitz was out of his seat and out of the room. "LAUREN!"
Ten minutes later in the Situation Room, Fitz stood facing a screen with multiple video links, while his advisors and department heads perched on the conference table behind him. An intelligence chief was speaking, "Sir, it's like finding Waldo. We get a hundred thousand warnings a day about potential attacks to American military or civilian targets. Most of them turn out to be a hoax. As a precaution, we did get the State Department to issue its usual travel advisory telling our citizens to be careful when travelling to the Middle East."
"The bombs went off in Africa, and from what I hear most of those killed are Africans."
"Yes, sir."
The Secretary of State stepped forward, "Our disaster and anti-terrorism teams are mobilising for departure to the affected region. The White House Press Corps are waiting in the Press Briefing Room. They'll want to know who, why and when we knew about it."
"Do we know who?" Cyrus asked, adjusting his collar. "Has someone already claimed responsibility?"
"Is it the Kashfarians again?" Fitz added with a frown.
"We've had no confirmation as yet, sir, but it's got to be another Islamic Jihadist splinter group. It's always one of them."
"I need to speak to the families of embassy and military staff killed in the blasts," Fitz said heavily, getting to his feet.
He left the room. Cyrus stood briefly, then sat down again, reaching out to pick at the edges of the empty Styrofoam cup in front of him.
After Fitz finished the last call, the Oval Office door opened quietly. Olivia walked in to find Fitz staring into space, his hair mussed, his eyes tortured.
Even after she was snug in his arms, settled comfortably in his lap, it took several minutes before he spoke.
"It doesn't get any easier with practice."
She stroked his cheek tenderly. "It shouldn't."
He gave her a rueful smile. "The families want to release the names of the dead."
"Around 100 people are reported to have died."
"I've spoken to the families of the eight Americans who were killed. We still have around 20 missing, buried under the rubble of the neighbouring office buildings."
There was a knock on the door and Cyrus entered. After a brief glance at Olivia, he focused on Fitz. "The Pentagon is organising an inter-agency rescue team from a military base in Europe and flying a medical assistance team from Andrews Air Force Base. Those would be good talking points for the press briefing."
"Of course, the press briefing," Fitz said drily. "Let the media circus begin."
Getting to her feet, Olivia helped Fitz out of his chair. "You make a very fine ringmaster."
With a glimmer of a smile, Fitz brushed a kiss on her lips, as she adjusted his tie and straightened the lapels of his jacket. Then after giving her another lingering kiss, he rounded the desk and strode out of the room.
Following behind, with Cyrus at her side, Olivia asked, "Do they know who did this?"
"The general consensus is that it's another Jihadist group."
World News Update
'At the last count, 2000 people had been injured and 100 were reported dead in the car bomb attacks at the US embassies in Manzania and Denya. [video footage of rescuers shifting rubble looking for survives in the shattered building]
'US President Grant has called the loss of human life an incomprehensible tragedy. "We will not let innocent Americans be killed for no reason other than they are American. We will leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice." He also denied that the Federal Intelligence agencies had ignored warnings of an impending attack in the region.
'Republican Presidential hopeful, Mrs Sally Langston, said the terrorist attacks were a reminder that the world is a dangerous place and that greater surveillance and counter-terrorism efforts were needed. 'We need to increase the defence spending budget, we need more troops protecting the lives of our people doing God's work'.
"Democratic Presidential front-runner, Governor Samuel Reston said the US Administration couldn't afford to drop the ball on foreign threats because of domestic civilian upheaval. 'While domestic issues like Faraway Count are important to the national psyche, this is a reminder that all Americans must be kept safe, wherever we are in the world'.
"Congressional sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the timing couldn't be better to show the American public that the real threats to National Security would always come from outside National Borders; they added that the Grant Administration would be well advised to shift focus from the muck-raking in America's backyard to the much greater threats posed by terrorism …"
"Man, those bastards have been looking for any excuse to sweep Police Brutality under the rug. And now they've got a legit reason to do it." Zeke scowled as he caught the news on his phone.
Fitz was back in the Oval Office, surrounded by his advisors, drafting an emergency assistance package. The leaders of the two African States needed help coping with the tragedy that was stretching their resources. He also had an open line to the Pentagon, where officials were coordinating efforts to temporarily shift troop presence from the military bases in the Middle East to diplomatic missions in Africa.
"Déjà vu," Cyrus murmured leaning close to Olivia, who was sitting on the couch with a cushion held protectively over her belly.
"What?"
"Mellie was pregnant with America's Baby when we had that little problem in Sudan. Now here we are with another delicate situation in Africa, and you're pregnant."
"Are you trying to remind me that I'm ornamental not functional, Cyrus?"
Casting a glance at Fitz, Cyrus lowered his voice even further as he added, "No, I was just pointing out the coincidence. I found it interesting. That's all."
"I'm more interested in the fact these highly-organised attacks happened in a couple of countries that haven't been on our intelligence radar for known terrorist activity," Olivia returned.
Cyrus looked at her oddly as Zeke turned his attention from his phone to Olivia.
Then everyone's attention turned towards the door as a harassed-looking staffer burst in to announce, "There has been another bombing. This time at the Australian diplomatic mission."
Olivia was sitting up in bed, reading when Fitz entered.
"What are you doing awake?" He said without heat as he tossed his jacket on the nearest chair.
"Waiting for you." Olivia put the book beside the digital clock, showing the time as a minute past midnight.
"Liv." Fitz shook his head, sitting on the edge of the bed to take off his shoes and socks.
Kneeling behind him, Liv slid her arms around him, her hands deftly undoing his shirt. "I had a long nap this afternoon while you were meeting with the Cabinet. Besides Baby Grant is restless."
"Blaming it on Baby. I need to remember that," Fitz murmured as he turned to tease her lips with a tired smile.
When the shirt and under-shirt had been flung aside, she watched as he stood to remove the rest of his clothing. "How did it go with the Australian Prime Minister?"
"The man is a fool. He wants us to go to war but we don't even know who the enemy is yet. He's talking up austerity in his country while building up a war chest worth $4 billion. Already the Australian government has splashed out on everything from military aircraft to ammunition. Our defence contractors are happy but I doubt the Australian public will be when they see the bill."
"So we've got a big boy who wants to play with his war toys," Olivia said huskily, letting her gaze wander over Fitz's naked body. "His US-made war toys. Looks like the one per cent are about to hit another war bonanza."
"Mm…" Fitz murmured vaguely, reaching out to tug at the belt of her robe.
"I thought you were tired," she whispered, sliding her hands over his bare chest.
"Exhausted," he muttered, bending to kiss her neck. "You'll have to do all the work."
"Listen, mister, you've already got me doing all the heavy-lifting in this relationship."
He snuffled a laugh, nudging closer. "I'll give you a raise."
"Fitz!" she protested, in between giggles. Then gurgled a laugh when he lifted her up and kissed her.
Fitz didn't wake as he usually did to ask groggily if she was okay, when Olivia eased out of bed for her usual pre-dawn bathroom break.
"Daddy's out for the count. We tired him out," Olivia murmured, rubbing a hand over her belly. "Or maybe it's the country that's tiring him… Oh! You agree with that?" She smiled, rubbing her hand over the spot where the baby had moved. "You're right. Things have been real crazy this year. Daddy has been running around shutting down all kinds of trouble and now he has to deal with this." Olivia finished her business, flushed the toilet and went to the sink to wash her hands.
Then reaching for the hand lotion, she mused, "So what do you think about the situation in Africa? Two attacks coming out of nowhere and happening around the same time. Do you think the Kashfarians are behind this again? No? I didn't think so. You're a real smart kid. You're going to fit right into this family."
Hearing a sleepy chuckle, she turned to see Fitz leaning against the door jamb watching her.
"Go back to bed," Olivia shook her head at him. "You look dead on your feet."
Drawing her into his arms as she approached the door, he rubbed noses with her. "Are you talking politics with our unborn child?"
"Baby Grant will have to hit the ground running with Jerry and Karen leading the charge," she murmured, as he bent low to brush a kiss on her smiling mouth..
"I was hoping our newest addition would be laid-back and placid like Teddy."
"Oh you think Teddy's placid?" Olivia leaned back to give him a pert look. "Guess you missed the turf war he broke up between Darth and Rex."
"Teddy broke up a dog fight?"
"He threw his stuffed bear at them. Then banged the table so hard with his sippy cup, they took fright and ran away."
"Maybe I need to take the little man to my next cabinet meeting."
Olivia laughed, taking him by the hand and leading him back to bed. It wasn't until they were spooning under the covers that Fitz murmured thoughtfully in her ear. "So who do you think is behind the embassy attacks?"
"Someone who wants a war to distract public attention away from the Congressional Hearing." She paused, "That's just what my gut is telling me. I have no hard evidence."
Fitz was silent, his hand rubbing her belly.
Then Olivia felt his arm grow heavy around her and his light snore tickled her ear.
James came into the dining room to find Cyrus with a glass of clear liquid by his elbow, as he looked through the photo album of Ella's christening.
"Whatever is bothering you, you need to talk about it." James drew out a chair and sat down slowly. "You're not sleeping and I'm worried."
Cyrus closed the photo album and sat back. "How would you feel about visiting your husband in maximum security prison when he's convicted of crimes against the state?" Seeing James glance towards the glass on the table, he added, "It's water."
"Did you have a bad dream?"
Cyrus wiped a hand over his face, then folded his arms across his chest. "I thought it would work. We needed something to stop the monster truck pile-up that was going to happen with this Congressional Hearing." He sat forward. "But it looks like I'm going to be found out. They'll know what I did."
"What did you do?"
Cyrus looked at James, hesitated, then picked up his glass. "Forget I said anything."
James caught his arm. "Tell me. I need to know."
"It's nothing," Cyrus yanked his arm away, barely managing to avoid a spill. Then quickly draining the glass, he got to his feet.
"Did you make a deal with the devil; has Sally Langston made you an offer you couldn't refuse or did you take a bribe from the Cosh Brothers?"
"Forget it, James. I'm tired. I wasn't thinking straight." Cyrus offered a smile, which James didn't return.
"You were looking at Ella's Christening photos? What does this have to do with Ella?"
"Nothing. Not anymore," Cyrus sighed, before heading out of the room with James frowning as he watched him leave.
"What you got?" Zeke asked, looking across the table at Oscar, in the dining room of Number One Observatory Circle.
"Not a lot. It's like looking for a damned needle in haystack," Oscar sighed. "They really do get thousands of tipoffs."
"Looks like we have to look for the money trail. If there was activity on the ground, somebody got paid. What about you guys?"
In the OPA offices in DC, the associates looked at each other, then back at the screen. "We got sent this by one of our ex-clients. I'm emailing the link now," Abby said. "Some random motorist took this picture with his camera phone and put it on Facebook for private viewing. Called it 'Mafia meet-up at Hope's Diner'. Then the account was deactivated but not before our client saved a copy."
Opening the link, Zeke frowned, "I'm looking at a bunch of guys having a face off. Is that it?"
"Zoom in on the window behind the cars."
"Is that… Cyrus?"
"Yeah, with that snake Hollis," Quinn spat.
"Hollis knows how to keep his hands clean. And he isn't usually this careless," Huck frowned.
"What are you saying? He's trying to fry Cyrus' ass? That might not be such a bad idea." Zeke said. "I've a mind to help him."
"Not if he does something to harm Olivia in the process." Huck frowned.
"And the President," Quinn added.
"Don't forget the baby! If those two do anything to Olivia and the baby, I'll go after them both with my own gun!" Abby got out of her seat and started pacing.
"We don't know what they're up to," Oscar reasoned.
"Nothing good," Quinn supplied.
"Do we tell the President?" Huck asked.
Zeke shook his head. "No. He's got enough on his plate right now."
"We have to tell Olivia."
"Not just yet."
A couple of days later...
"What's taking so long? Why hasn't Fitzgerald pulled the gotdamn trigger?" Hollis shouted over the prepaid mobile phone that Cyrus had obtained for 'Operation Divert Attention'.
"Look the only way, he'd spring into action is if knew what was going on beforehand. This has been a shock to the system and he's trying to sort out the mess without causing more damage." Cyrus dropped an antacid into a glass of water and watched it dissolve. "But he might get a war sooner than he wants; the Australians are pushing for it. They're already sending military personnel over there to be on stand-by. Fitz maybe strong-armed into a military assault before he knows what's going on."
"Yeah, that was a stroke of luck. I told those guys to bomb the Austrian Embassy so we could get the Europeans on board, but they got confused and bombed the Australians."
"Genius." Hollis said drily, picking up his glass.
"Oh you ain't seen nothin' yet. Hold the applause until I roll out Act II."
Breaking News….
"A group claiming to be the Warriors of Mass Destruction have released a video confessing to the US embassy attacks in Denya and Manzania. The group says more attacks will be carried out at the diplomatic missions of 'western oppressors' if the US infidels don't pull out all troops from the Holy Land of Mecca and stop funding Israel's genocide in Gaza…"
'Sir, one of our field officers sent this over an hour ago." A CIA official handed Fitz a report.
Pentagon and Intelligence officials were meeting with Fitz in the Situation Room, where Fitz was having an extended security briefing.
"It's the results of a test we did on a soil sample found outside a factory in Lushan."
Fitz paused, frowning "What's Lushan got to do with the embassy bombings?"
A Pentagon official butted in. "It's an Islamic State. There's a credible link between the Warriors of Mass Destruction and the government of Lushan. Can we afford another 9/11 on our hands? If we don't destroy that chemical factory, we could have a devastating chemical war on our hands, threatening even more US military and civilian lives."
"This report says it's a registered pharmaceutical company."
The CIA director spoke up. "The chemical agent we found, EMPTA, is not used for commercial purposes. It's a key ingredient in the deadly VX nerve gas. If you thought people jumping out of the Twin Towers to escape being burned alive. Then imagine what it would be like to have a pandemic of people exposed to a highly toxic nerve gas that causes convulsions, paralysis and respiratory failure leading to certain death in extreme cases."
The FBI Director waited a beat before adding, "Sir, the factory is owned by a Saudi Businessman who supports terrorists. We've been tracking the payments he's been making from his Bank of America account. The money has been going to charities that we believe are supporting terror cells in Iraq and Afghanistan."
Politics Today – cable news now network
"Retired US General Dave Grey today said the Warriors of Mass Destruction were bad news. 'These are trained killers without a conscience. You can't reason with people like this, not when their language of communication is bullets and bombs. The President needs to understand that. I've fought against maniacs like this. I know how they think. And I know that we need a broad strategy to deal with this group. We need to wipe them out. And by that I mean, total annihilation'.
'These words were echoed by former administrators in both the Bush and Clinton Administrations said it was important to increase defence capabilities not just in the Middle East but also Africa…."
It was late afternoon before Fitz had a spare moment to go in search of Olivia, eventually finding her in James' office, on the floor with Teddy, Ella and James.
"Got a minute?" he asked Olivia, who glanced over with a smile.
"Uh," James scrambled to his feet, lifting Ella in his arms. "I need to see someone about something." He'd almost reached the door before he paused, casting his glance back to Fitz and Olivia. "Would you like me to take Teddy as well?"
"To see someone about something?" Fitz asked with a faint smile.
"Yes."
Fitz shook his head, "I haven't seen much of Teddy for the last couple of days. I have a lot of catching up to do."
As the door closed behind James, Fitz hunkered down on the floor beside Olivia. "Hi."
"Hi." Olivia reached out to brush a fallen curl back from his forehead, just as Teddy dropped the baby-friendly tablet in his hands and scrambled off Olivia's lap to fling himself in Fitz's arms.
Laughing, Fitz collapsed back onto the rug letting Teddy crawl over him. Ten minutes later, with Teddy sitting on his middle, distracted by the tablet again, Fitz looked over at Olivia watching him with a soft smile on her face.
She shifted close so Fitz could lay his head in her lap without disturbing Teddy. Then after he'd placed a soft kiss on her belly, Fitz sighed, "They want me to attack a chemical weapons plant in Lushan, to prevent another attack."
"Lushan?" Olivia stroked her fingers though his hair, gently massaging his scalp. "I thought we were supposed to be looking for Jidhadists."
"The factory is owned by a Saudi Businessman with known links to Al Qaeda, according to the FBI. The CIA has found traces of a chemical agent used in nerve gas in soil samples taken from the factory compound. Meanwhile, the Lushan government has reiterated it's a medicine factory."
Olivia stayed silent, stroking his hair. After a long pause, Fitz gave another heavy sigh, "The vultures are circling and I'm getting pushed towards a war I don't want."
Before Olivia could respond, there was a knock and a White House aide popped her head around the door, smiling apologetically at the three faces staring at her. "Mr President, sir, Mr Beene is looking for you."
Having raised his head at the interruption, Fitz flopped back down onto Olivia's lap and closed his eyes. "Tell him I'll be there in a couple of minutes. Maybe ten."
"Sir, he said it's urgent."
"Urgnt!" Teddy repeated, wide-eyed.
When Fitz exited Olivia's office, he saw Cyrus hurrying down the corridor towards him.
"What's the emergency?" Fitz asked exasperated.
In response, Cyrus grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. "Sally Langston wants to meet with you tonight.'
"Why?" Fitz asked shortly.
"Lushan."
Fitz felt weariness settle on him like a heavy blanket. "Where's Zeke? Ask him if he's free to take the meeting."
"Zeke hasn't been in all day." Cyrus paused. "Sally insisted that the meeting has to be with you. Samuel Reston has been invited too."
"Reston?" Fitz raised a brow. "Then we better see what's got them in bed together."
"They want to meet on neutral territory."
"Are we talking another moon landing? That's going to be difficult after we cut funding to NASA."
Cyrus didn't even crack a smile. "They've suggested Andrews Air Base."
"Really?" Fitz looked taken aback. Then he shook his head. "Tell them Camp David. Set the meeting for nine. That'll give Tom's team enough time to sweep the grounds and put a SWAT team in place."
It was close on ten, when a handful of armoured SUVs made their way towards Laurel Lodge. Cyrus exited the main entrance and reached out to open the door for Fitz.
"They're waiting in one of the conference rooms."
Minutes later Fitz strode in to greet his semi-invited guests, an automatic apology on his lips for his tardiness.
Sally forestalled him. "It's good of you to agree to see me at all, Fitzgerald."
"Yes," Fitz agreed. "If we have time, I'll tell you about my time in that nice mental retreat you recommended in Roswell, New Mexico."
In the background Samuel Reston's lips twitched, then he stepped forward with an outstretched hand. "Mr President, you don't look stressed for a man who's about to become a father for a fourth time."
Fitz chuckled. "This is the easiest pregnancy I've been through, thanks to Olivia."
"And how is the dear lady?" Without waiting for an answer, Reston added, "Please pass on my good wishes. I owe my freedom to your wife, and I'll be eternally grateful for that."
"How is your dear wife enjoying her incarceration in our five-star prison system?" Sally asked pleasantly.
"I assume she's well. Thank you for asking… Any word about the whereabouts of David? Did he make it to the Swiss nuthouse?" Sam replied in a similar vein.
"No."
Fitz sat down in the nearest couch, crossing his jean-clad legs at the ankle and resting his hiker boots on the coffee table. "It's getting late and I know Olivia will be waiting up for me, shall we get down to business?"
Almost two hours later, Fitz felt impatience battling with exhaustion as he leaned against the back of the couch trying to stay awake. On the opposite couch, Sally Langston and Sam Reston leaned forward pushing their points, talking over each other in their eagerness.
"The Republicans in the Lower House and the Democrats in the Upper House will stand behind you if you order a defensive strike against the chemical-weapons factory in Lushan."
"The Lushanese President has given his assurance that the factory makes medicine," Fitz repeated.
"The Lushanese government wouldn't have any idea of what's going on down there. The factory is privately-owned by a Saudi national."
"Are we racial-profiling wealthy businessmen simply because they're Saudi nationals?"
"Oh, don't be naïve, Fitzgerald, you know all Arabs are against us because we support the one democratic state in the whole of the Middle East."
"Jordan?"
Sally firmed her lips. "This is not a time for your warped sense of humour, Fitzgerald."
Reston held up a pacifying hand. "As long as we support the democratic state of Israel, we will continue to be the target of every insane terrorist in the region."
"The US and Israel have both dropped more bombs in that region, than they have dropped on us," Fitz muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Samuel Reston shifted in his seat, re-crossing his legs. "The reason we are here, at this midnight hour, is not take arbitrary unilateral action on an innocent bystander to the Embassy bombings which has killed nearly 300 people. You have evidence that the chemical agent, EMPTA, a precursor to the deadly VX nerve gas, was found outside the factory."
"From a single soil sample found by one field agent. The nerve gas was not used in the Embassy attacks"
"It would be good, Fitzgerald, for once during your term of office, if you could take preventative action instead of reacting to events." Sally focused her narrow-eyed gaze on Fitz. "Your father would not have tippy-toed around this issue!"
"Leave my father out of this."
"You cannot stall on this, Fitzgerald. We have been attacked, you need to take action!"
"Then let Congress pass the motion to go to war."
Reston shook his head. "We don't want to declare war on Lushan. Congress has only declared war 11 times. As you know the last time was when Congress passed the Iraq Resolution in 2002. What we are asking for is a strategic, precisely aimed attack on a factory known to be making weapons of mass destruction."
Sally let that sink in for a minute before adding, "As President, you have within your executive powers to declare war under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution."
"If we have been invaded."
"If we have been invaded or there is a threat of imminent danger. What more evidence do you need of imminent danger than a chemical factory in a region that has destroyed two of diplomatic missions killing 300 people, with a terrorist group threatening more attacks right before an election?"
Olivia was flicking channels, lying against a bank of cushions on the couch when Fitz entered the living room.
"What did they want?" She asked switching off the television and pushing back the throw rug across her legs to sit up.
Fitz sank down beside her. "They want me to destroy the Lushan factory."
Olivia shifted close, sliding her arms around his waist. "Are you going to?"
"Samuel Reston sends his regards."
"Fitz," Olivia tightened her arms around his waist. "Ride it out. We can't take the chance that it's a pharmaceutical company."
Fitz leaned his forehead against hers. "What if it isn't? We ignored warnings about the Embassy strikes. We can't afford to ignore this."
Olivia lifted a hand to stroke his cheek. "This doesn't feel right. My gut says there's something wrong here."
Fitz pulled away from her and walked over to the cabinet, reaching for cut glass decanter, and a glass.
"Fitz, don't."
Sighing, he put the stopper back in and turned to face her a little defensively. "What if your gut is wrong?"
When Olivia didn't respond, Fitz moved away from the drinks cabinet and stood facing her with his hands on hips. "Olivia, I can't sit on my hands and wait for it all to blow over. You wanted me to take action on Faraway County, but you want me to hang tough on Lushan?"
"I didn't ask you order a missile strike on the County Sheriff's office in Faraway County."
He stared at her. Then walked towards the door. "I need to finish some paperwork."
"But it's late."
"Don't wait up for me."
Olivia stared at him in confusion as the door shut behind Fitz with a firm click.
"Sir," Tom came into Fitz's office in the early hours of morning, carrying a letter in his hand. "This arrived by courier yesterday. We've checked; it's safe to handle."
Fitz thunked the half-empty glass on the table and took the sheets of paper. "It's from the father of a marine who died in the Embassy attacks, but you know that because this letter, addressed to me, has been opened."
"We had to be sure the paper didn't carry traces of a toxic substance." Tom stood at ease in front of the Resolute Desk.
Fitz gave a grunt and read out loud, "Sir, I write this on behalf of the families united in grief over the tragic loss of our loved ones in the recent terrorist attacks in Denya. I write to you as a father of a marine who has made the greatest sacrifice for his country – his life. Your kindness in reaching out to the families in our darkest hour has been greatly appreciated. It was my son's honour and privilege to have you as Commander-in-Chief of this great country. As more bodies are recovered from the rubble of the Embassy bombings in Denya and Manzania, it is my greatest hope that you will do everything in your power not only to find the terrorists who killed my son, but also to prevent these killers from harming another American soul on foreign soil."
Fitz crushed the paper, crumpling into a ball. Then just as quickly, he laid it flat on the surface of the desk and smoothed out the creases as best as he could.
"I have to make a call to the Pentagon."
"Would you like me to get Olivia, sir?"
"No," Fitz sighed, looking down at the paper sadly.
"Cyrus?"
"No," Fitz said with more conviction, facing Tom. "This is my call."
Breaking News…
…"US fighter planes today entered Lushanese airspace to drop 75 cruise missiles on an alleged chemical weapons factory in a dawn raid in the middle of the city"…
A/N: I realise a lot of you didn't like the idea of Hollis' war, but war seems to be a 'must' on the agenda of US Presidents, even Nobel Peace Prize winner President Obama. But aside from taking you down political pathways you may not wish to travel, Dear Readers (picture me in a cloud of bliss) I have a lot to thank you for. Not only do you read, encourage and defend this little story but you also provide plot inspiration which is pure gold. This chapter wouldn't have its opening without Cici G who provided the link for Police Can Take Your Property For No Reason—And Buy Crazy Things With It (AlterNet article By Terrell Jermaine Starr).
But I often wonder if you'd believe this shit was real without references to actual events/press articles. That the police are able to rob you blind during a routine traffic stop, I find absolutely outrageous. That this stuff is legal is the real 'Scandal'.
Okay so preaching NOT over. (FYI: soapbox now regular accessory)
After that, I had writer's block – Hong Kong Democracy style block - on how to transition to the next phase of the story. Chips, chocolate, and staring at cats wrapped up like burritos (why tho?) didn't help.
Then Bill Clinton came on Ellen. She asked if he watched Scandal. He said he watched Scandal and House of Cards, and that he didn't know 'you could get away with murder'. (Hohoho!)
In 1998, at the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal and Clinton's possible impeachment, there were two US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania – places with no known 'indigenous' terrorist activity at the time (as reported by the media). This is also when the US media introduced the world to Usama bin Ladin who later became Osama bin Ladin.
So what does that have to do with Clinton (wild speculation aside)? Well in response to the bombings, Clinton ordered 60-75 cruise missiles to be dropped on a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan, killing one employee, injuring 12, and depriving affordable medicine to hundred thousand Africans (and Iraqis who were waiting for a shipment of medicine under the oil-for-food programme).
(BTW, why are US Presidents so bad at geography when foreign policy is supposed to be their forte? Bin Ladin's minions destroy the World Trade Centre, who gets attacked? Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. US embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya by 'Usama'; who gets bombed? Sudan. It's like bombing Venus after you've been attacked by Mars.)
(BTW #2, notice how Obama is closer to Osama than Usama. Wonder when the spelling changed?) Anyway (more wild speculation aside) poor Fitz had to go to war because at least in this story I control the ending. (Hohoho!)
Oh and sorry for the mixed pickle of old and new – the new is that we did have Idiot Abbott, Prime Sinister of Australia pushing for the current war games in Iraq.
Going off to look at more cat pictures.
References (without giving away too many spoilers for the next chapter) (X)
Police Can Take Your Property For No Reason—And Buy Crazy Things With It (X)
Bombs Explode at 2 U.S. Embassies in Africa; Scores Dead (X)
Was the plant in Khartoum a weapons factory? (X)
Who Pays the Pro-War Pundits? Conflicts of Interest Exposed for TV Guests Backing Military Action (X)
All the Previous Declarations of War (X)
Article II, Section 2, Clause 1: Commander in Chief (X)
Australia wants to buy $3.8 billion worth of weapons from the U.S., spent $200K lobbying on its naval port (X)