God of War:
Part 8


Lynn Jepsen

---

What did they say?

Josh sighs a little before staring in, but Lily's body language is
clearer. Her arms are crossed, and her chin is almost on her chest. "Mr.
President, let me preface this by saying I think we should try to go
through diplomatic channels until we run out of options." I agree. Go on.
"If you choose to send a declaration of war to Congress, the Leadership
assures me there will be no problem getting the votes together." Okay
then. I'm taking a call from Zeta in four minutes. Anything else I should
know? Josh stares for a second, and I nod. Lily, could you step out for a
moment? "Of course, sir."

What is it, Josh? "There's a memo floating around, and we're not sure
where we stand with it." Is it bad? "Lisa wrote it." Okay. What is it?
"After the assassination, when you two were... Anyway, she wrote a memo
for Lionel to use to persuade Hoynes on a thing. It was about The Wrath
of God, and from what she's reconstructed, it could be dangerous if they
were to get a hold of it." And we don't know where it is? "Right." Okay.
Okay, I'm going to take this call now. Send Georgia and Wallace in. I
want you to stay for this.

When Margaret connects the call, I feel my pulse quicken. It's time to
force everything but this phone call from my mind.

Good day, General Zeta.

"Good day, Mr. President."

Let's not avoid the issues. I want you to renounce The Wrath of God.

"I am sorry, but I cannot."

Why?

"The time has come for Palestine to claim it's sovereign land. The United
States has sided too long with Israel."

There will be consequences.

"We are prepared to deal with those consequences in our own way."

The connection is broken then, and I glance up at Georgia wearing
headphones. She heard the conversation, and I'm hoping she can tell me
what that last sentence meant.

*

"Sam?" Yeah, come in. Lisa walks softly across the Mural room and sits
next to me on the floor. "You know, we have chairs." Yeah. She tilts her
head, and lets it rest on my shoulder. Alice is being briefed right now.
Lily's in charge of it. I'm just waiting for them to finish. I guess I'm
sending my VP on a tour of pertinent embassies. Our Allies need some sort
of unofficial heads up.

"I want you to cancel the speech tonight. We should be focused on this
situation." No. We cannot ignore this.... this... this war at home, in
favor of a war abroad. "Please, Sam. I just think...." No. Who put you up
to this? Josh? Doesn't he understand that this is important to me? Of
course not. The two of you, you never see farther than the fall out. Josh
buried in the political spin, and you organizing everything. This is my
White House. When I stand up and walk out, she's still sitting on the
floor, still staring after me. This is my White House, and I should be in
control.

When I reach the Oval, Alice is sitting on the couch. She rises when I
walk in. "Mr. President." Gesturing for her to have a seat, I take up my
station behind the desk. It's been a long day and it's only half over.
Margaret brings me lunch when Alice leaves, and Josh joins me a moment
later with a plate of celery and a bowl of tomato soup. Rachel should get
a raise for that.

"About the energy bill, we're going to need three more votes. Now if we
pull line, I think it's sixty-seven on the crime bill, we'll get
McDillion, Hunter, and Forrester." Nodding through a bite of my sandwich,
I tune into the mundane matters of government for a half hour.

---

God of War: Part 9

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