Tom would have sighed in exasperation, but he was standing in front of about a dozen cameras. Of course, the people controlling those cameras were the reason for his exasperation. No wonder Rachel always finds a reason to avoid these things. Of course, she wasn't actually a government official, just an employee. As CNO, he couldn't really weasel out of these things. Just like you can't weasel out of this new diplomat gig. He wished he could go back to the semi-private life of an ordinary officer, or even a normal staff officer, but those days were gone. And he couldn't tell Michener to fuck off like Rachel had…dammit.
"And, if you have further questions about the upcoming diplomatic mission to Asia, Captain Chandler will be glad to answer them."
Tom smiled like he really was happy to take their questions and stepped up to the podium, acknowledging a reporter in the first row.
"Captain Chandler, why are we going to Asia to help them when the US isn't clear of the virus ourselves?"
"We're actually very close to completing our efforts here at home - we estimate another month or two. It's primarily an issue of simply getting the known cure to the people in less densely populated areas. For instance, getting the cure to spread through the mountains via the contagious vector is difficult, but that's why we sent the Nathan James to the west coast last month. Now the cure is working its way in from the west, and we expect the cure to reach both sides of the Rockies by the end of the month." He could see the reporter getting antsy at his long winded reply, and got to the point he'd been setting up.
"Since we're almost done here, it's time to start looking forward to rebuilding. Part of that effort is reaching out to the world and rebuilding diplomatic and economic ties with the rest of the world."
"So you'll be trading the cure for resources to rebuild?"
"No. We're sharing the cure because it's the right thing to do. The fact that it's beneficial to have live trading partners is just an added bonus." He did allow a little annoyance at the question to seep through. He hated the idea that anyone would consider profiting off of this life-saving medicine for any reason. Not to mention the fact that his own wife would kill him if he allowed it to happen. However, the reporter seemed oblivious to his irritation. And dense to boot.
"But It was an American ship that created the cure - some people think we should focus our recovery efforts here at home."
"With the aid of British doctors, a Jamaican survivor, and Nicaraguan monkeys. The cure does not belong to one country. It would be unethical to withhold it on any grounds. And the sooner the world is healthy, the sooner we can all help each other rebuild. Personally, I'm looking forward to the day we have coffee again."
A chuckle ran around the room in commiseration. If there was any coffee left in America, it was fetching top dollar on the black market. Another reporter piped up hopefully.
"Do Dr. Scott's models say how much longer it will take the cure to reach South America?"
Tom chuckled.
"I'll ask her. I do believe that South America is one of the first continents other than ours projected to be clear of the virus." He paused. "Any other questions?"
"Is she accompanying you on this mission?"
Not on your life. In the many phone calls and few video chats they'd arranged with the Chinese leader, Peng had come across as a well-dressed snake. Polite, cultured, and viciously dangerous. Rachel hadn't been keen on traveling halfway around the world anyway, but he'd been insistent she stayed home.
"Unfortunately, she's busy working in the lab."
"What's she working on?"
"The aforementioned models and projections. We're trying to accelerate the spread of the cure as quickly as we can."
"What do those models say?
"Current projections show the cure already spreading south through the Americas, thanks to simple geography, but we're also sending the Solace on an Atlantic tour to Brazil, Africa, and Europe."
"Why is Europe last?" another reporter asked.
Tom looked at him. Historically, the US had had its strongest ties with Europe, but the situation had changed since the Red Flu. It was taking the general public time to come to terms with the fact that traditional western alliances were nearly non-existent, a dramatic change from the last century.
"The unfortunate truth is that there are simply fewer people to save in Europe." He replied, leaving unsaid the reason why. "Our goal is to save as many lives as possible, as soon as possible, and that means focusing on the largest populations." He saw the reporter's reluctance to accept that answer and continued. "I promise you, it was difficult for Dr. Scott to recommend that route."
The reporter nodded at that response, the reminder of Rachel's heritage making it easier to accept the logic behind the decision.
"Any chance she'll be able to come explain those models to us?"
Tom recognized the reporter asking the question as one from the only scientific journal that had been resurrected – the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Some of Rachel's work on the Red Flu had already been published with Dr. Milowski's help.
"It's nigh-impossible to pry her out of the lab in the middle of a project. Believe me, I've tried." A chuckle ran around the room. If her own husband couldn't get her out of the lab, nobody could. "Perhaps once the mission is over she'll publish the rest of her work."
"We'll be waiting with bated breath." The science reporter replied.
"Will we see her at all?"
Tom's eyes narrowed as recognized the next reporter. He belonged to the same paper that had ambushed Rachel a couple of months ago. Officially, it billed itself as a general newspaper with a 'human interest' focus, but it was little better than a gossip rag.
"The work she's doing is more important than talking to reporters." Especially to come talk to vultures like you.
"But she's the Doctor." The reporter whined. Coverage of her had always been their best-selling issues.
Tom's patience ran out at the entitlement in that comment.
"Okay, let's make this perfectly clear. She has not, is not, and will not be a government spokesperson. She is a private citizen. If you go around harassing private citizens, your credentials may come into question."
"Is that why Fred's press pass was revoked? Because he tried to interview your wife?"
Tom could no longer contain his anger, replying in an icy tone.
"No. Mr. Exeter's press pass was not revoked after he accosted my wife on the street. It was revoked after he did the same thing to my father as he dropped my children off at school."
The reporter actually flinched, and looked to his peers for support. He didn't find it. Attempting to talk to the Doctor was one thing; involving the children remained out of bounds, one of the few standards of the old press corps that was still considered sacred in today's world.
"Are there any other questions?" Chandler asked. For once, the answer was no. "In that case, good day."