{"id":468,"date":"2011-11-14T00:01:02","date_gmt":"2011-11-14T06:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=468"},"modified":"2013-02-25T00:13:21","modified_gmt":"2013-02-25T06:13:21","slug":"cowboy-diplomacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/?p=468","title":{"rendered":"Cowboy Diplomacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 Some people say that if you can\u2019t play golf, you can\u2019t participate in proper politics or diplomacy.\u00a0 Those people have obviously never played poker.\u00a0 You can\u2019t bluff in golf.\u00a0 You can\u2019t stare down your opponent.\u00a0 Winning is all about your own skill, not about actually beating<\/em> the other guy.\u00a0 Poker is social and political and diplomatic by its very nature.\u00a0 And those who have mastered them all are scary to play against.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cowboy Diplomacy<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jack followed Charles through the hatch into a living room that his mind was finally beginning to consider large.\u00a0 Back home, it would have been impossibly tiny.\u00a0 In space, it was far larger than anything in the United States Navy.\u00a0 Even the Constellation<\/em> had nothing like this.\u00a0 Bookshelves and paintings and holograms and plants and a dozen other knickknacks framed a closed hatch in each of the four bulkheads that made up the room.\u00a0 Comfortable looking chairs, and even a sofa that looked like it could double as a bed filled the room, making it look like a comfortable place to spend time in.<\/p>\n

Aneerin waited for them, standing next to one of the chairs.\u00a0 He waved for them to come in and Betty and Dorothy stepped close behind them, allowing the hatch to close.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish you all good health, now and forever,\u201d Aneerin said in a formal tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish you good health, now and forever,\u201d Charles answered.<\/p>\n

Aneerin waved towards the chairs and Jack and Charles followed the invitation, sitting down in a pair of chairs next to a bookshelf overflowing with what appeared to be honest-to-god paper books.\u00a0 Betty and Dorothy found seats against another wall, though their holograms lacked the weight to sink into the seats, making them look more like they hovered on them.\u00a0 It was a small trick Jack had learned for spotting cybers.\u00a0 One of many.\u00a0 He turned to Aneerin with a frown.\u00a0 He understood why Aneerin might want to talk to Charles as he was the commander of the squadron now, but he couldn\u2019t figure out why Aneerin would want to talk to him<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh yes, the dreaded \u2018what am I doing here?\u2019 question,\u201d Aneerin said as he sat down and placed his hands behind his head, seeming fully at ease.<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s eyes narrowed in suspicion.\u00a0 He\u2019d heard Aneerin was good at reading body language.\u00a0 Jack really didn\u2019t like being read.<\/p>\n

\u201cI apologize,\u201d Aneerin said to him.\u00a0 \u201cI understand your fighter was badly damaged out there.\u00a0 I\u2019m told you almost died.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 I\u2019m better now.\u00a0 Better than a lot of the pilots,\u201d he said, not really wanting to talk about the dream.<\/p>\n

Aneerin nodded slowly. \u00a0\u201cIndeed.\u00a0 We did lose\u2026many.\u201d\u00a0 He turned to Charles, seemingly accepting Jack\u2019s reluctance.\u00a0 \u201cI apologize for the losses you took in fighting with us.\u00a0 Your Johanson in particular will be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew him?\u201d Charles asked, surprise in his tone.<\/p>\n

Aneerin shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI never met him.\u00a0 But good squadron commanders are hard to find, and he will<\/em> be missed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he will,\u201d Charles said, his tone controlled but Jack caught an edge of sorrow in it.<\/p>\n

Jack shook his head, a flash of anger burning through him.\u00a0 \u201cHis sacrifice wasn\u2019t necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin, seeming to catch his mood, cocked his head to the side as the hatch opened and Hal walked in.\u00a0 \u201cI agree.\u00a0 But could you tell me why you put it the way you do?\u201d Aneerin asked, the edge of an order underneath the civil tone.<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s eyes narrowed and he chewed on his lip, meeting Aneerin\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 Aneerin looked genuinely curious, which either meant he didn\u2019t know what Jack meant, or he was really good at acting.\u00a0 Jack grunted, shook his head, and began to explain. \u00a0\u201cLook, you know as well as I do that the Shang didn\u2019t have you trapped.\u00a0 What we just did at Fort London proved that.\u00a0 You could have jumped out at any time at Fort Wichita.\u00a0 Instead we jumped in to save you because we didn\u2019t know what you could do.\u00a0 Johanson died there, but you didn\u2019t need<\/em> the help we brought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin pulled in a deep breath and rubbed his chin for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cSo you think his death is my fault?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack pursed his lips and considered his answer.\u00a0 Truthful or diplomatic.\u00a0 He chose truth.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack noted with a corner of his mind that Hal reached the wall next to another bookshelf and leaned against it.\u00a0 Betty jumped out of her chair to join Hal at the wall, leaning against it as she moved in close to whisper to him.\u00a0 It was amazing really how cybers could act so human without seeming to think about it.\u00a0 Of course, if you asked them they were<\/em> human.\u00a0 Jack hadn\u2019t come to a conclusion yet, but he was certainly leaning towards the conclusion that they thought<\/em> they were.\u00a0 And maybe even that they were<\/em>, which did interesting things to many of the world\u2019s major religions.<\/p>\n

He returned his attention to Aneerin in time to see the man glancing towards the cybers as well.\u00a0 Aneerin smiled, shaking his head to bring them back on track.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood insight,\u201d Aneerin said in an approving tone.\u00a0 \u201cI will not limit my involvement in the manner of his and the other losses, but I would state for the record that your conclusion of fault is not entirely accurate.\u00a0 Jack, if we had hit and run as we just did with Fort London, we could have damaged the Shang for minimal damage to my squadron<\/em> in return.\u00a0 It worked at Fort London because the fort was still operational.\u00a0 The British still took heavy casualties, but Fort London\u2019s point defense kept most of them alive.<\/p>\n

\u201cFort Wichita on the other hand was largely reduced in combat effectiveness and could do little to protect the ships around her.\u00a0 Had we performed hit and jump assaults at Fort Wichita, the Shang would have accepted the losses we gave them while continuing to surround and destroy your American ships and then the fort.\u00a0 We allowed them to trap us, spreading their fire and attention across us, knowing it would reduce the casualties to your fleet, and then waited for your squadron to arrive.\u00a0 Did you really not question why your battle plan changed at the last minute?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack frowned at Aneerin.\u00a0 \u201cSo are you expecting me to believe that you changed the standard operating procedure of an entire Battle Squadron, causing you to take significant damage including the crippling of a third of it, all because you knew our twelve fighters were ready to support you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin smiled.\u00a0 \u201cNot exactly.\u00a0 I asked your Admiral Warcheski to task a destroyer squadron to support our flank.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack blinked as he considered the words.\u00a0 Many things began to make sense.\u00a0 \u201cOh,\u201d he said, his voice betraying his beginning doubt in Aneerin\u2019s guilt.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly,\u201d Aneerin returned.\u00a0 \u201cA full destroyer squadron could have shattered the Shang flank with a single salvo.\u00a0 Your assault killed a single cruiser.\u00a0 They adapted quickly and you would have been overwhelmed had I not performed a counterattack.\u00a0 The time spent on that counterattack delayed my reinforcement of the main battle around Fort Wichita, causing American casualties to mount.\u00a0 Admiral Warcheski died because he thought he could drive them off by himself, without listening to me,\u201d Aneerin finished.\u00a0 Disdain dripped from his tone.<\/p>\n

Jack nodded.\u00a0 Aneerin\u2019s argument made sense.\u00a0 Except one thing.\u00a0 \u201cIf Admiral Warcheski didn\u2019t listen, why did he send us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin gave him a predatory smile.\u00a0 \u201cHe didn\u2019t.\u00a0 Your Constellation<\/em> creatively interpreted her orders and sent you on her own initiative.\u00a0 She was smart enough to see what he would not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack frowned.\u00a0 \u201cMom sent us?\u201d\u00a0 He shared a glance with Charles who seemed just as surprised as he.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t know she could do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin\u2019s smile turned gentle.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s because you see her as a ship, not a person.\u00a0 She and the other cybers recognized my plan and agreed to send the only jump-capable assets they could task without violating orders.\u00a0 You,\u201d he said with a wave of his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow far in advance did you have this battle planned?\u201d Charles asked intently.<\/p>\n

Aneerin smiled again.\u00a0 \u201cLess far than you would think.\u00a0 Farther than you might guess.\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou know<\/em> the Peloran designed us to fight.\u00a0 The ability to think strategically and tactically as second nature is part of their design.\u00a0 I don\u2019t suppose I planned<\/em> any of it.\u00a0 I definitely did not know the Shang would attack when they did.\u00a0 But within seconds of their assault, using the ships I knew were in range, I had a plan ready to repulse them with minimal casualties.\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cAdmiral Warcheski chose to follow his own plan.\u00a0 He is now dead, as is your Johanson.\u00a0 I apologize for not being able to prevent the latter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles met Jack\u2019s gaze for a second before turning back to Aneerin.\u00a0 \u201cWell, you can\u2019t control everything I suppose.\u201d\u00a0 Jack caught the trick in the question and scanned Aneerin for any hint of a \u201cwell I should have\u201d in there.<\/p>\n

Instead, Aneerin pursed his lips.\u00a0 \u201cIndeed,\u201d was all he said.\u00a0 \u201cYou are most perceptive, Charles.\u00a0 Your family should be proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack narrowed his eyes, considering the interplay.\u00a0 Either Aneerin truly didn\u2019t think he should control them all, or he had caught the word trap and said he didn\u2019t to fool them.<\/p>\n

Aneerin turned to him with another smile.\u00a0 \u201cYou doubt my motivations, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack met his gaze without hesitation and answered him honestly.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin nodded in approval.\u00a0 \u201cGood.\u00a0 Always doubt those who would put themselves in positions of authority over you.\u00a0 They may not always have your best interests in their hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd your<\/em> interest is of course in our<\/em> best interests?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly,\u201d Aneerin said, opening his arms wide as if he had nothing to hide.\u00a0 Jack didn\u2019t believe that for a split second.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me,\u201d Hal interrupted the conversation from his position against the wall with Betty.\u00a0 \u201cWe have an incoming message.\u00a0 It appears the President of the United States wants to talk to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Aneerin asked, gazing back and forth between Jack and Charles.\u00a0 \u201cWhat a coincidence.\u201d\u00a0 His expression looked calculating and Jack had the undeniable feeling that nothing about this situation was coincidental.\u00a0 \u201cI wanted to talk to her too. \u00a0Please open communications.\u00a0 I assume she wants us in her office?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe does,\u201d Hal answered with a smile and stepped away from the wall to take a more formal stance.\u00a0 Aneerin came to his feet and motioned for Charles and Jack to follow suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe good, boys.\u00a0 You are about to see your President,\u201d Aneerin said, the ease he had affected before melting away into the smooth and cool professionalism that Jack had learned to equate with the Peloran.<\/p>\n

Jack came to his feet and swiveled his head to see Charles and Dorothy on their feet as well.\u00a0 Betty stood next to Hal, looking every bit the consummate professional fighter cyber.<\/p>\n

\u201cAchieving datalink\u2026now,\u201d Hal said and the walls of the living room rippled and changed.<\/p>\n

One second they were standing on the Guardian Light<\/em>.\u00a0 And then the holoemitters in the bulkheads came to life, faithfully recreating a much larger office on Earth for the benefit of everyone in the room.<\/p>\n

Jack shifted his feet back to look at the massive rug on the floor that declared this to be the office of the President of the United States.\u00a0 He brought his head up to see the President\u2019s desk and the President behind it.\u00a0 He gulped.<\/p>\n

The President of the United States looked like she had a bad taste in her mouth.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a surprise really.\u00a0 Six months ago she had been the junior senator from Colorado, sick from a particularly nasty form of the flue that had broken through the Peloran Treatments, when the Shang dropped several hundred missiles on Washington DC during the State of the Union address.\u00a0 The designated survivor had been in Los Angeles when a large chunk of Yosemite Station hit the city dead center, leaving her the highest-ranking representative of the Federal Government.\u00a0 Jack and his dad had been fishing that day.\u00a0 The wholesale destruction of the majority of the career politicians in Washington had rammed some serious steel into her spine and Jack approved of that.\u00a0 A true War President sat behind her desk, most definitely unhappy at the moment, and he realized he really did not want to be on the receiving end of a War President\u2019s unhappy glare.<\/p>\n

Jack came to attention and brought his hand up to salute her.\u00a0 He surreptitiously scanned left and right to see Charles, Dorothy, and Betty saluting her as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish you good health, Aneerin,\u201d she said through tight lips.\u00a0 \u201cNow and forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin gave a brief bow of the head.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I wish you<\/em> good health, Madam President, now and forever,\u201d he returned the standard greeting.<\/p>\n

She turned to Jack and Charles, wearing their very obvious United States Marine Corps uniforms.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Constellation<\/em> is damaged, Ma\u2019am,\u201d Charles answered professionally.\u00a0 \u201cThe Admiral offered us a place to land and repair and refuel.\u00a0 We were discussing the battle when you called.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President\u2019s eyes narrowed further and her eyes flicked to Charles\u2019 rank insignia.\u00a0 \u201cWhere is your commander?\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles licked his lips.\u00a0 \u201cColonel Johanson did not survive the battle, Ma\u2019am.\u00a0 I am the senior surviving officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112, Ma\u2019am.\u00a0 I accepted the Admiral\u2019s offer, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack suppressed a nod of approval.\u00a0 Charles was earning his spurs all right.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d the President said and turned her study to Jack.\u00a0 Jack carefully held his salute and did nothing else beyond staring straight ahead.\u00a0 \u201cVery well,\u201d she finally said and returned their salute.\u00a0 \u201cAt ease,\u201d she ordered and turned back to Aneerin as Jack and the others lowered their hands to stand at ease.\u00a0 \u201cThank you for helping us at Fort Wichita,\u201d she said, though she looked unhappy to say it.\u00a0 \u201cMy Joint Chiefs assured me your help would not be needed.\u00a0 I see they were wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin nodded towards her.\u00a0 \u201cIn a great many things, Madam President.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President pursed her lips and frowned, obviously unhappy with his statement.\u00a0 \u201cMy Joint Chiefs tell me that you allowed the Shang to escape,\u201d she said slowly.\u00a0 \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin took in a deep breath and answered her in a simple and clear tenor.\u00a0 \u201cBecause I did not wish to send the vast majority of the fighting men and women at Fort Wichita to Annwyn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack blinked and looked at Betty in confusion, wondering what Annwyn was.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the Peloran afterlife,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d he whispered back, returning his gaze to the President.\u00a0 An aide stepped away from her and she had the same dawning look of comprehension on her face that he assumed was on his.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s\u2026that bad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is, Madam President,\u201d Aneerin answered, looking totally and utterly calm, in complete control of the situation.\u00a0 \u201cThe Shang do not surrender.\u00a0 Back them into a corner, and they will kill you or die trying.\u00a0 Leave them an escape route if the battle turns, and they may take it.\u00a0 We might have won at Fort Wichita, we might have lost, but our casualties would have been nearly total, and their attack on Fort London would have been a complete success.\u00a0 The damage to your ships was too severe for them to have fought much longer without catastrophic losses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy wasn\u2019t I told this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin pursed his lips, looking like he\u2019d just bitten into a sour fruit.\u00a0 \u201cBecause your Joint Chiefs have not yet come to terms with what the Shang just did to you.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 They don\u2019t wish to tell you what happened until they know what happened, and most of them are incapable of understanding the magnitude it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not have you insulting soldiers who have served their country well, especially in front of other soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin took in a deep breath, letting silence rule for a few seconds.\u00a0 \u201cMadam President, you are in your position because the Shang made a tactical and strategic error, assuming their goals are complete domination of your world of course, when they bombarded DC.\u00a0 They killed a large number of federal bureaucrats and politicians and news reporters who would have hampered your war effort.\u00a0 Some of them because they did not believe in war, some because they did not believe in your country, and some through no greater fault than their own incompetence.\u00a0 They did not similarly cull the stupidest of your military high commanders.\u00a0 If you seek to kick their asses across the universe, you<\/em> will need to do the culling, Madam President.\u201d<\/p>\n

She glared at him for several seconds, her lips pursed.\u00a0 \u201cYou suggest that some of the representatives of this country were traitors?\u201d she said in a cold voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Aneerin answered, lips pressed thin.\u00a0 \u201cI state it without reservation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President continued to glare at him.\u00a0 \u201cCan you prove these allegations?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin sighed.\u00a0 \u201cNot to the satisfaction of your legal system.\u00a0 Your courts would throw out much of the evidence due to means of acquisition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack could have sworn he saw a smile on the President\u2019s face for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cSo you got it illegally, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin cocked his head to the side.\u00a0 \u201cMany traitors hide their activities by making the methods of proving their nature illegal.\u00a0 I believe you know what I speak of.\u00a0 You were not\u2026joyously welcomed by many in your party when you were elected as I recall.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time Jack knew without a doubt that the President smiled.\u00a0 \u201cTrue.\u00a0 Although I\u2019m not certain I would call anyone who died that day a traitor.\u201d\u00a0 Jack suppressed a scowl at the obvious political speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps you would not,\u201d Aneerin answered.\u00a0 \u201cAnd in fact most were not.\u00a0 But some were<\/em>.\u00a0 The Shang killed them all, both the guilty and the innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n

A thoughtful expression came to the President\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cDo you think they cared?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin pursed her lips, seeming to think about his answer for several seconds.\u00a0 \u201cI think they care about a great many things, and they don\u2019t<\/em> care about a great many things.\u00a0 What they care about in this<\/em> case I will not guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President\u2019s gaze turned calculating.\u00a0 \u201cYou didn\u2019t actually answer my question.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin returned her gaze for several moments.\u00a0 \u201cIndeed.\u201d\u00a0 She continued to stare at him and he sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI think they care about every victim they can place a name to, as well as those they cannot.\u00a0 The amount<\/em> they care is what I do not know.\u00a0 I can<\/em> say that they saw many in DC on that day as a threat that had to be removed.\u00a0 What exactly the threat was and who they were I do not know.\u00a0 Furthermore, indications I have received suggest that they greatly preferred the designated survivor in Los Angeles to you.\u00a0 I believe they considered him more\u2026reasonable than you.\u00a0 It seems the Shang did not plan the fall of Yosemite and they are most displeased that you<\/em> ended up as the highest-ranking survivor of the government.\u00a0 They are certainly<\/em> displeased that you are now President.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack gasped as a thought came to mind, catching the disapproving attention of the President.\u00a0 He froze when her gaze hit him.\u00a0 But Aneerin just chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe our young pilot has a question he wishes to ask,\u201d Aneerin said with a smile.<\/p>\n

The President looked at Aneerin in confusion, then back to Jack with her calculating gaze back.\u00a0 He felt like she was measuring him from head to toe and coming up with a giant question mark as to whether he was worthy of the measuring.\u00a0 \u201cAsk,\u201d she finally ordered.<\/p>\n

Jack cleared his throat, feeling like he wanted to be any place but right where he was.\u00a0 \u201cI was just wondering,\u201d he finally said, real slowly and carefully.\u00a0 \u201cHow accidental it was that you got sick the day before the rest of the government was killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President leaned back in her seat and let out a long breath.\u00a0 He watched as the War President disappeared from her body language, replaced by a woman rubbing her eyebrows.\u00a0 She looked up at Aneerin and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThat is<\/em> a good question, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin looked at Jack like a proud grandfather.\u00a0 \u201cIndeed.\u00a0 It is<\/em> a very good question.\u00a0 I hope he continues to ask such questions in the future.\u00a0 It is always helpful to have a healthy distrust of those in power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her expression hardened and Jack saw the War President return.\u00a0 \u201cYou didn\u2019t answer the question.\u00a0 Why was<\/em> I sick that day?\u00a0 Did you know what was going to happen that day?\u00a0 Could you have stopped thirty million Americans from dying?\u201d she asked in a harsh voice.<\/p>\n

Aneerin froze and swallowed, then looked for a chair and sat down in it, hard.\u00a0 Jack followed his every move watching the cool and collected Peloran fall in favor of a troubled and sorrowful man.\u00a0 Aneerin shook his head after nearly half a minute.\u00a0 \u201cI had no idea,\u201d he said with a frankness that Jack recognized for its rarity.\u00a0 Peloran could not lie, but they were very good at double speak when they got rolling.\u00a0 \u201cMy sources said they had something planned,\u201d he added, sorrow in his voice.\u00a0 \u201cI passed my concerns on to your people.\u00a0 But I had no idea at all about the sheer scale of it all.\u00a0 I underestimated them and you paid the price.\u00a0 For that I apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President smiled at him.\u00a0 \u201cI accept your apology, Admiral.\u00a0 Though that does still leave the nature of my illness in question.\u201d\u00a0 She looked at Jack and Charles, as well as Betty and Dorothy, disapproval back in her face.\u00a0 \u201cBut such issues should not be spoken of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin returned to his feet with a smile on his face.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps.\u00a0 Perhaps not.\u00a0 They are trustworthy or I would not have invited them here.\u00a0 In fact, I believe they have the metal to make good squadron commanders in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack swallowed as the President measured him again.\u00a0 \u201cInteresting,\u201d she said slowly, looking as if she were putting a great amount of thought to the idea.\u00a0 \u201cSo you willing to tell me who would be good military commanders for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI am willing to give you my input, Madam President.\u00a0 The final decision is of course yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cOf course.\u00a0 I suppose you have names for the military commanders you think I should\u2026cull as well?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin nodded and turned to Hal.\u00a0 \u201cHal, please send her the file.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2026have one ready?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed.\u201d\u00a0 He raised his hand.\u00a0 \u201cWait.\u00a0 Remove Admiral Warcheski\u2019s entry before transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hal smiled.\u00a0 \u201cFile is edited.\u00a0 File is sent.\u201d\u00a0 He looked at the President.\u00a0 \u201cYou should have it on your personal pad now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President looked down, scanned the file, and her face went white.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2026you would have me remove this many people?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin sighed.\u00a0 \u201cMadam President.\u00a0 We both know that ranks that high are only given to those who have the political allies to get them that rank.\u00a0 Your predecessors valued the ability to talk well, not kill well.\u00a0 You need a new Sherman, a new MacArthur, a new Richardson.\u00a0 You know as well as I do that those on that list would not stand well in such company.\u201d<\/p>\n

The President turned her gaze back to Jack and Charles, frowning.\u00a0 \u201cWe are talking of their commanders.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Aneerin\u2019s turn to sigh.\u00a0 \u201cPlease understand me, Madam President.\u00a0 We held the line, and we did not lose our ships.\u00a0 It will be another three months before the nearest Peloran Battle Fleet arrives.\u00a0 How many ships can you build in those three months?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout Yosemite\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The President shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly.\u00a0 The Shang dealt you a mortal blow.\u00a0 That your people still stand at all is admirable.\u00a0 I am pleased that I judged you rightly.\u00a0 Now I have pledged you all the aid I can give you, and I will hold to that pledge.\u00a0 But the first and most important mission we all have is to preserve what fleet we have left until reinforcements arrive.\u00a0 We must buy time.\u00a0 I just bought you some today, and we did not lose every ship in the Terran system buying it.\u00a0 Now it is your turn to help us buy time by promoting your competent officers and giving them the commands that they are ready to perform.\u00a0 Give me allied commanders who can fight at something beyond a squadron level, who can fight with<\/em> me and not against me, and we will drive<\/em> the Shang screaming before us.\u00a0 I have fought the Shang before.\u00a0 You have not.\u00a0 Please listen to my advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin paused, took a deep breath, and shook his head as if he didn\u2019t want to say something.\u00a0 \u201cPlease.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head again and set his jaw.\u00a0 \u201cI was created to serve the Albion.\u00a0 It was<\/em> a great honor to serve them, to follow their orders.\u00a0 But that is what I did.\u00a0 That is all I did in those days.\u00a0 And they are dead now.\u00a0 They are dead because they were too arrogant to listen to our advice.\u00a0 They created us to fight for them and then they thought they knew war better<\/em> than us.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t.\u00a0 We could have saved them, if only they would have listened<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 He stopped, closed his eyes, and took in several deep breaths.\u00a0 Jack watched the calm Peloran mask return and he wondered just how hard Aneerin had to work to maintain it.\u00a0 Finally Aneerin opened his eyes again, the epitome of Peloran calm.\u00a0 \u201cMadam President.\u00a0 I pray that you listen.\u00a0 I cannot demand<\/em> it.\u00a0 The Albion made certain of that when they created us.\u00a0 But I ask you to please<\/em> listen to my advice.\u00a0 I watched the Albion die.\u00a0 I do not wish to see your people fall under the rule of the Shang.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026see.\u201d\u00a0 The President took a long breath before continuing.\u00a0 \u201cThank you for your candor, Admiral.\u201d\u00a0 She grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cAnd thank you for your advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are welcome, Madam President.\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin glanced at Jack and Charles.\u00a0 \u201cMay I make one more request?\u201d<\/p>\n

The President followed his glance before returning her gaze to the Admiral.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 Of course, Admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u00a0 My losses in crew and equipment have been\u2026I dislike the term catastrophic, but it is close.\u00a0 I have lost over fifty percent of my fighters.\u00a0 I do not have the resources to build new ones, and I do not have enough people left to pilot them even if I did.\u00a0 I can repair my ships, but I do not have enough fighters left to effectively screen my formation.\u00a0 You on the other hand can build new fighters and train new pilots and yet lack the facilities to build new ships to fly them off of.\u00a0 We find ourselves in the position of being able to reinforce our respective weaknesses.\u00a0 I request that you assign some of your fighter squadrons to fly off my ships.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u00a0 I\u2019ll\u2026make certain the orders are sent out as soon as possible, Admiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould you\u2026order it\u2026now, Madam President?\u201d<\/p>\n

The President glanced at Jack and Charles one more time.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose so.\u00a0 Explain why if you will?\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin waved a hand towards Jack and Charles.\u00a0 \u201cYour Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 saved my ships from taking considerable damage, and then helped me drive the Shang away from both Fort Wichita and<\/em> Fort London.\u00a0 I would like to make that working arrangement permanent, if you are willing, Madam President.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s jaw dropped at the idea, but he somehow pulled it back up when the President turned to examine him and Charles.\u00a0 She returned her eyes to Aneerin.\u00a0 \u201cThey are yours for as long as you need them.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell General Brage\u2026\u201d she trailed off and scanned the list again.\u00a0 \u201cGood, I see he is not on this list.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not, Madam President.\u00a0 He is very good at his job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u00a0 I\u2019ll tell General Brage to have the appropriate orders written up, but they are yours right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Madam President.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you<\/em>, Admiral.\u201d\u00a0 Her look grew shrewd.\u00a0 \u201cAnd perhaps you can upgrade their fighters while you are at it.\u00a0 If they are defending your ships, it might be in your best interests to do so of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin smiled back and rubbed his chin in amusement.\u00a0 \u201cOf course, Madam President,\u201d he finally said.\u00a0 \u201cI think we can arrange for some\u2026modifications in your basic Avenger package.\u00a0 I might even be able to have the modifications sent to your factories so that future production does not need<\/em> the upgrades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Admiral,\u201d the President returned.\u00a0 \u201cYour help will always be accepted.\u00a0 And your advice.\u00a0 Good health to you, now and forever,\u201d she finished in a respectful tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood health to you, Madam President.\u00a0 Now and forever,\u201d Aneerin answered.<\/p>\n

With that, the datalink ended and the Office of the President faded away to be replaced by the living room again.<\/p>\n

Jack swallowed and turned to study Aneerin as the Peloran simply stood in place for several long seconds.\u00a0 He finally turned away from where the President had sat and looked at Charles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to your new duty station, Charles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles and Jack shared a look that said \u201cWhat have we just stepped in?\u201d before Charles turned to Aneerin.\u00a0 \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aneerin turned away from Charles and smiled at Jack, spreading his hands out wide.\u00a0 \u201cSo, what do you think now<\/em>, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack frowned, wondering if he should truly say what he thought.\u00a0 He grunted, and opened his mouth, determined to say it.\u00a0 The Admiral had asked after all.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m thinking playing poker with you might be a mistake,\u201d Jack said in a suspicious tone.<\/p>\n

Aneerin\u2019s smile grew wider.\u00a0 \u201cIndeed.\u00a0 Let us hope that the Shang feel the same.\u00a0 I would hate for them to decide to call my bluff and attack us, right now, in force.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Charles said with a grim smile, drawing the word out as he looked back and forth between them.\u00a0 \u201cI believe my family would prefer to avoid such an occurrence.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 Some people say that if you can\u2019t play golf, you can\u2019t participate in proper politics or diplomacy.\u00a0 Those people have obviously never played poker.\u00a0 You can\u2019t bluff in golf.\u00a0 You can\u2019t stare down your opponent.\u00a0[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-1stdraft","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-jack"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=468"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1831,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468\/revisions\/1831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}