Hey! Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 20- Path to Recovery
At Andrews Air Force Base, the base personnel watch as the E-4 carrying President Bush touches down and taxis towards the hangar where the two VC-25s usually used as Air Force One are parked.
As the E-4 parks and begins to power down, a mobile ladder moves up the plane. The door opens, and President Bush makes his way down the stairs.
Obi-Wan is waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. "President Bush. It's good to see you alright," he says.
"Good to see you as well, Master Kenobi. Thank you for your efforts in the defense of New York," President Bush says.
"It was my pleasure, Mr. President. Your soldiers were some of the greatest men I have ever had the pleasure to fight alongside," Obi Wan says.
Several Air Force guards walk up to the two. "Mr. President. Your helicopter is waiting to take you back to Washington. The Chiefs of Staff are waiting for you at the White House," one of the guards says.
President Bush nods, then says, "If you would care to accompany me, Master Kenobi."
"Of course, Mr. President," Obi Wan says, before accompanying President Bush over to Marine One.
The helicopter soons takes off and heads towards Washington DC. Only a few minutes later, Marine One sets down on the lawn of the White House. President Bush and Obi-Wan leave the helicopter and make their way into the White House, slowly making their way to the Situation Room.
When the two enter the Situation Room, they find the Chiefs of Staff already assembled. As they walk in, the men stand at attention, and General Sullivan says, "Welcome back, Mr. President."
"At ease gentlemen," President Bush says as he and Obi Wan take their seats.
"What's our current situation?" Bush asks.
"The Republic reinforcements have taken up position around the planet. They have reported 2 Separatist Lucrehulk class battleships captured, and 5 Separatist ships disabled in orbit by EMPs thrown off by our nuclear attacks. General Plo Koon, the one commanding the fleet, has contacted us that the two captured battleships will be left to us to begin forming our own Starfleet, and the disabled warships will also be left to us to do what we wish with them," General Sullivan responds.
"I have also talked with General Koon. He was conveyed that, on orders of the Chancellor and the Senate, eight Venator class Star Destroyers from the fleet above will be left to you, along with all fighters and other equipment on board. These ships are a gift from the Republic to allow you to begin building up your own Starfleet," Obi Wan adds.
Bush nods approvingly. Then, in a more somber tone, he asks, "Do we have casualty reports yet?"
General Sullivan nods grimly, and rather than answer, slides a file over to President Bush.
Bush opens the file and begins perusing it. As he reads, his eyes grow wider.
It takes him a few minutes to read through the report. By the time he has finished, he's appalled at the cost of driving the Separatists away. Terran losses numbered a little over 400,000 troops (particularly in the battle for Volgograd, Vladivostok, and Tehran), almost a thousand aircraft, and about 400,000 civilians. The Republic had lost all their air assets on Earth, and almost 20,000 clones. The cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Buenos Aires, Ilorin, Lagos, Abujin, Sydney, Tehran, Volgograd, Buffalo, Albany, New York City, and Vladivostok and her surrounding cities had all suffered damage in the campaign, and Soviet oil resources in the Caucusus region and Iranian oil resources had been hit. While the Separatists had taken incredible losses, it was devastating blow for the Terrans.
President Bush sits there for a few moments before passing the file to Obi Wan. As Obi Wan looks through the report, his eyes also widen. Finally, he looks up.
"President Bush, I apologize for the dreadful losses your planet has incurred. Perhaps if the Republic had sent reinforcements sooner…" he says.
President Bush cuts him off abruptly. "Don't trouble yourself with those thoughts, Master Kenobi. At least we had the Republic here to help us defend ourselves. If you hadn't been here, I dread to imagine what would have become of our planet," he says.
The room is quiet for a few moments before President Bush turns to the Chiefs and says, "I want our forces to remain at DEFCON 2 for the next 24 hours, then reduce to DEFCON 3."
"Understood, Mr. President," General Sullivan says.
President Bush looks around at everyone and says, "Friends. It's going to be a git of a journey to recovering from this. But I believe we will make it through."
(January 15, 1992)
President Bush and Obi Wan look over the most recent reports of damage caused to New York City in the Battle of New York.
Suddenly, one of the President's aides comes in and says, "Mr. President, I think there's something you may want to see."
President Bush and Obi Wan stand up and follow the aide into another room, where a TV has been set up, and CNN is on, with a reporter standing in front of the Kremlin.
"I am here in Moscow, standing in front of the Kremlin where, just a few hours ago, the Supreme Soviet announced the ratification of the Belavezha Accords, formally repealing the 1922 Union Treaty and formally dissolving the Soviet Union. Just an hour ago, the flag of the Soviet Union was lowered from the Kremlin, and the Russian tricolor was raised. Premier Gorbachev has announced that, as of the moment the Accords were ratified, the Soviet Union is formally dissolved, and all republics of the Soviet Union are now independent states. Mr. Gorbachev says that only the need for unity stemming from the recent extraterrestrial invasion has kept the Soviet Union together, and that following the losses and damaged sustained in the battles of Volgograd and Vladivostok, keeping the Soviet Union together was no longer possible. There has been no word of response from any of the other nations of the world, but we expect to begin hearing from world leaders soon. We will keep you updated as we learn more," the reporter says.
President Bush and Obi Wan stare at the screen for a few moments before President Bush says, "Well. It finally happened."
"What do we do now, Mr. President?" Obi Wan says.
"I will prepare my official response to this news, and if your Republic is willing, prepare to help the Soviet Union's republics transition to independence," President Bush says.
(Later that night)
President Bush walks out into the White House press room, where a number of reporters and television cameras are waiting for him.
"Good evening. I have come before you today to deliver two messages."
"First of all, I wish to address the news released earlier today from the Soviet Union. I wish to issue my formal condolences to the people of the former Soviet Union for the losses they took during the invasion by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. I offer the assistance of the United States in rebuilding process and transition for the newly independent Soviet republics."
"Secondly, I wish to address the recent invasion of Earth by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. I would first wish to express my extreme gratitude to the forces of the Galactic Republic for aiding us against the Confederacy and being willing to sacrifice their lives to defend our planet."
"I express my condolences to the people of Germany, Argentina, Nigeria, Australia, Iran, and Russia for all the losses they sustained in this invasion. An updated report delivered to me just a few hours ago has shown about 800,000 dead or wounded military personnel and civilians across the world. While these losses are great, many of these people gave their lives to defend our world. And we owe them a great debt of gratitude."
"While the battle for our planet is over, the war is not yet over. The Clone Wars have come to our planet. In three days, on January 18, the United Nations will meet to vote on further involvement in the Clone Wars. However, I wish to announce that the United States, regardless of the vote taken by the United Nations this Saturday, will be joining the Clone Wars as an ally of the Republic. I presented such a motion to Congress yesterday, and with an overwhelming majority, the Congress of the United States of America voted in favor of a declaration of war between the United States and the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
President Bush pauses for a brief moment, then says, "That will be all. There will be no questions." He then turns and walks out of the room as reporters shout questions after him.
As he walks away, President Bush thinks about the future. It's going to be a long road to recovery, and it's clear that the war ahead is going to be long and hard. But, he knows that once again, the United States will pull through, as will the entire world.
And, I'll end there. I hope you liked this chapter.
There will be two more chapters dealing with the aftermath of the Terran campaign, and the Terrans' preparations for war. I hope you are excited to see Earth get officially involved in the Clone Wars.
Next chapter will be up soon. Until then, leave a review, and Happy New Year!