Chapter 9

Reporters are filling into the noisy room, looking for their respective seats. The White House Press sent out an announcement that President McKinsey intends to make an emergency address to the public. Once the new agencies received the message they didn’t waste any time assigning reporters to the event. With the elections on the horizon and all the attacks on America, every moment is a critical one for McKinsey. And Senator Rustlin stirring up trouble doesn’t even begin to help matters any. It is time for McKinsey to take control of the situation.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States,” a calm female voice announces.

The room quiets down almost immediately at the announcement. Seconds later McKinsey enters the room and makes his way to the podium. He wears a mask of grim determination of his face. “Thank you for joining me this evening. I would like to get right to the matter. I will then take a few questions.”

There are a few murmurs of agreement. Most of the reporters are eager to hear what he has to say, others believe it’s a ploy to draw unwanted attention from himself to put some kind of blame on his rival. Then there are some who are set in their opinion and are only here because their editor sent them.

“There has been quite a bit of controversy over the events
these past few months. The FBI has been charged with investigating these events along with the organization of the Terrestrial Defense Force. I am to announce that the FBI has not found any evidence linking these events or any like them to the TDF,” McKinsey says proudly. “Even with the TDF being exonerated from these charges, I am officially shutting the program down. They are just one of our many programs used to protect us from threats to this country, but they are also the most targeted, both by these threats and America itself. It is with great reluctance that I make this decision. The current members’ names will not be released and they will be given the opportunity to be reassigned to other organizations.” He frowns, knowing that this decision is one of the worst he has made during his presidency. “Most of you are aware of the current situation in Africa with both the Chinese and Russians. As a nation that protects the innocent from the threats of foreign powers, terrorists and dictators, we have set back for far too long. As of earlier this afternoon, I signed an order to send our Armed Forces to aid Africa.” A pause follows to allow for this revelation to sink in. When McKinsey starts back up, he is sterner. “NATO has cautioned us not to infringe on this coalition and its movements. We cannot stand back and watch helpless nations be overrun. If we listened to every caution or looked over our shoulder at every possible fear we would not be here today. There is a call for our help just as there has always been and it is a call we will no longer ignore. I made a promise to protect not only America from threats, but every other helpless person and nation.” He stands silent, looking over the crowd that has gathered before him. Every television in the nation is most likely tuned into this address. Even for those that aren’t interested in seeing what he has to say has no other choice.
Every network is set to broadcast this speech. It was a little difficult, but McKinsey made sure he had hired the best people for his administration. Right now he is glad he did so. “I ask all of you out there for your support. Right now I know many of you have answered the call brought by Senator Rustlin and many of you do not wish to see another conflict rise up and turn into a war. I cannot make you see my way of thinking for we are a free nation. I also cannot force you to view my decision to send aid to countries in conflict beyond their own accord. But I as a leader cannot allow tyranny in any form or in any country to take shape.” His face changes and his tone become solemn. “Most of all, I cannot let any one person or any one country or any multiple amounts of the two decide that it is alright to abuse their power. I cannot sit back and allow them to believe they are greater than any one person or country. And I certainly cannot allow innocent men, women and children to be slaughtered or persecuted. I cannot command any of you out there to view my actions for your own. I can, however, ask that you take the time to put yourselves in the situation and ask if America will not help then who will? Thank you. I will take a few of your questions now.”

Shouts of questions erupt from the mouths of all the reporters in the room. It is as if the opening bell of the Stock Exchange has been rung.

“Mr. President! Mr. President!” a young blonde reporter shouts.

“Yes, Janice,” McKinsey says, pointing at her position in the third row.

“We are all glad to see that you are still alive after the attempt by the mysterious assassin, but he has left two of your cabinet members dead. Is this assassin linked to the events happening now or from those of the months previous?”

“At the moment both National Security and the FBI are working on finding this assassin and well as any link she may have,” McKinsey replies.

“You said she?” Janice asks.

“That is correct,” McKinsey says very straight faced. “The assassin is a woman and should be considered very dangerous.”

“Rumor has it that this assassin is of Chinese descent,” a man from the second row announces. “Can you confirm this? And if so, is she working for the Chinese government?”

“At the moment that cannot be confirmed,” the president says. As he begins to look to the next reporter, the same man asks another question.

“If the assassin is indeed working for the Chinese government, how likely is it that she can be linked to General Wei?”

“Like I said, the investigation is under way,” McKinsey answer, being careful to not let any irritation cloud his tone. “Right now I am not able to confirm anything in lining the assassin to anything.”

The reporters are trying to take him into waters that either he isn’t prepared for or doesn’t want to tread in. The whole point of the message is to rally America together instead of pushing it apart. These reporters are more concerned with getting a story than anything else. Carly, the woman that announced him, see the situation unfolding into something of a fiasco. Thinking quickly, she walks briskly over to the president and whispers in his ear.

McKinsey’s expression changes into shock. He looks back up at the group and says, “I’m sorry, but something has come up and that is all the questions that I am able to answer at this time. Thank you for your patience and I urge you all to consider my words tonight.”

Reporters begin shouting questions at the man. McKinsey leaves looking back only to raise his hand in the air to wave to the group and the people watching. Then he is through the door, safe from the cameras and questions.

Thank you for the save out there,” he says to Carly as soon as they are in the privacy of the hallway.

“Not a problem, sir,” she says with a warm smile. “Just doing my job.”

“Are the members of the TDF being released yet?” he asks, getting right down to business.

“As we speak,” she answers with a curt nod, her smile gone. She is all business as well. “Shall I have Director Nichols meet with you?”

“Yes,” the president says. “And make sure he has Director Cornelius with him too.”

“Yes, Mr. President,” Carly says, pulling out her phone and stepping away from the president.

A knock raps at the door causing President McKinsey to turn his attention from the view outside to the door of his office. “Come in,” he says just loud enough for his voice to carry through the door.

The door opens and his secretary walks through with a notepad in hand. “Excuse me, sir,” she says briskly. “Both Director Nichols and Director Cornelius are here to see you.”