The White House-2017 Washington RP

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

"She's a pediatrician. I'm not sure where we could fit her in."

Denisevich sighed. It had been tough. They had reconnected a bit since moving to Washington together, but it remained difficult to have a serious relationship with their careers.

"Im starting to think one of us will have to give up our career, lest we have to give up each other. This is something we discussed awhile ago. It will likely have to be her, given the gravity of my position. If she did, I would marry her, of course."

[Prolieum]

January 23, 2017

Chief of Staff's Office

"What ages?" Cal asked, wheels turning in his mind. "A personal White House doctor, for Mia and the twins, maybe? That's a legitimate position."

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

"Pre-adolescence."

Denisevich smiled, though he tried to stifle it.

"Sir, she would be honored I'm sure, but don't feel like you owe me this."

[Prolieum]

January 23, 2017

Chief of Staff's Office

"No, no, this is actually really good." Cal went on, mental wheels still whirring. "Obviously you want a good doctor, but trust is the most important thing in something like this-Aubrey's really been paranoid about who we're letting treat them." Cal stopped for a moment as he realized he had just gossiped about his wife, but couldn't exactly unsay it, so continued on. "It's someone we know-well, we know you, already inside the White House and administration, can't ask for anything closer, loyalty." He grinned. "This is actually perfect."

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

Denisevich was usually a dour man, but almost like a child, he had to restrain himself from embracing the man across from him. The President of all people might have just saved his relationship. He genuinely beamed at Reed, probably for the first time.

"Mr. President, I cannot express my gratitude enough. Working alongside Catherine has always been a dream of mine. Nothing sounds better to me than that."

[Prolieum]

January 23, 2017

Chief of Staff's Office

Denisevich's smile was infectious-or maybe Cal's had been infectious first, regardless, the two of them were smiling.

"Simon-well-man, I've always been a romantic. This-just, I really am happy to help here. Making something like this happen-this is a wonderful feeling. It's not even about gratitude, just this feeling is reward enough."

He shook his head and laughed. "Oh, man, oh man, this is getting to be a horribly sappy movie scene, I need to get myself out of here."

He clapped Simon on the shoulder and nodded over to the phone. "Go give your blushing bride-to-be the news. Or, heck, go tell her in person, everything seems to be pretty sorted for the day." One more smile. "I'm so happy for you two."

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

"I think I'll take a long lunch and visit the Department of Health and Human Services. I want to see her face when I tell her the news."

Denisevich stood up, rolled down his sleeves, and pulled his jacket back on.

"I'll talk to you later, Mr. President. This was a fairly productive meeting. Again, keep me posted on the Brankers situation. My secretary will stop by while I'm gone for the new legislation."

[Of Herbshire]

The Oval Office, White House

Cal suddenly received an alarming call from the President of Ireland, Sir Abraham Moses.

"Mr President, it will be my pleasure to join you on a multi-national cooperation on defeating ISIL. Previously, I've notified to your administration that there was 2 separate bombings that happened in our capital, Dublin. 21 people has been killed, whilst another 47 were injured. The alleged suspect is identified as Salman El Hadad, a 46 year old, not too tall, blue eyes, brown hair Arab immigrant from Western Iraq who is currently in this country for work, and they, i mean ISIL, are claiming responsibility for the mass attack. This is outrageous! Extremism has been an international threat for ages and it's about time that we should combat this threat together. Should we agree on this, Mr. President? Well, we could meet in Ankara and discuss this matter with the Turkish President."

[Prolieum]

January 23, 2017

Chief of Staff's Office

"I'll go find where I filed the copy, give it to them." Cal affirmed, smile refusing to leave his face. "Doesn't get much more productive than this. Go get her." With that, he made his exit, mood rather dramatically shifted from when he had entered.

[Prolieum]

January 23, 2017

Upper Floor

Cal's mood had been significantly brightened from its rather dour state on the way over, but he at least managed to keep himself from whistling on his way back. Stopping at the office, he unlocked and then thumbed through his well-organized files and pulled out one of the photocopied sheets of the handwritten document, in his own tight, slighted stretched, but neat script. Flipping over the sheet, he dashed out a brief note to Denisevich on his suggested event, and had it all bound up before his Chief of Staff's secretary arrived, and he made the handoff.

With that, he made his way up the stairs to cover over the next matter-something he had previously been quite steamed about, but which wasn't dampening his mood at the moment.

He reached the bedroom door-the Presidential Bedroom, he guessed it was called now, and slipped it open to look in, where Aubrey was lying on the bed, playing with Mia. Their eldest daughter, now just over a year old, was sitting upright on the sheet, trying to grasp her tiny fingers around the rattle that Aubrey would maneuver just out of reach, going at it with a wide-eyed infant intensity, swiping miniature arms to try to grasp the evasive toy.

Cal slipped up sidelong to the bed, and laid down on it himself, half covering his wife from above, bringing his face near to hers and kissing her on what was supposed to be her cheek, but ended up about her eyebrow. Mia seemed to not even notice her father's arrival, so intent on grasping the vivid green ball-on-a-stick that was almost within reach.

"She'll be walking soon, you know." Cal said, watching his daughter, his voice betraying a hint of both his eagerness and mild disappointment that the stage hadn't yet been reached.

"In her own time." Aubrey replied, without Cal's eagerness or impatience, watching her daughter's eyes as the young girl did her best to track the weaving object, never once making a sound to add to the slight noise of the rattle's shaking.

After a few more moments of watching, Cal rolled off the bed, and back to his feet. Aubrey finally let the rattle fall within reach, where Mia grasped it. With her mother letting go of the toy, the infant immediately proceeded to the most logical course of action-trying in vain to wrap her mouth around it. Aubrey smiled warmly at the sight as she adjusted herself to sit on the bed's edge.

"So, something's on your mind." She noticed.

Cal just let his response affirm her statement. "You saw that ANN piece?"

"As a matter of fact, I did."

"We should be suing them for defamation. Really, that was just ridiculous."

Aubrey snorted lightly, halfway to a dismissive chuckle. "Come on, really?"

Cal sighed. "Coke addict? This just isn't acceptable stuff."

"Does it really matter? I'm sure there's plenty of people saying nastier things in private, or on computers."

"I don't think so."

She smiled. "Of course you don't think so."

At most other times, in a different mood, Cal would have pressed on it, insisted on it-but the outrage just wasn't coming together as hard as it usually would be, he didn't feel the same frustration with letting it go-and so he did.

"I suppose you're right."

The concession surprised Aubrey, but she decided not to press her fortune on it. Cal took the opportunity to change topics.

"So, I think we've found a doctor for the girls!"

"Hmm?" Aubrey replied, suspicion clearly present in the nonverbal reply, as she gently prevented her daughter, cleverly now trying to put the handle in first, from shoving the rattle down her throat.

"It's Simon's fianceé. Denisevich's." he amended, at her blank look.

"She's qualified?" Aubrey asked, still without enthusiasm.

"She's a pediatrician." Cal affirmed. "She knows what she's doing. And-well, there's some external motivation. Simon and her-her name's Catherine-they've been having some trouble. This gives them the chance to see each other more. Preserve their relationship."

"Sounds like the sort of thing you'd set up." Aubrey grumbled. Cal just looked at her.

"Fine. What else am I supposed to say?" She shakes her head. "I still want to meet her. Does she know...?"

"No."

"I'll have to be the one to tell her then." She sighed.

"Come on, you know you're being too negative about all of this."

"Probably." She admitted.

"She'll probably come over tonight or tomorrow, you can talk to her, everything will be fine." He smiled as Mia struggled to break her mother's grip on the rattle. "And our daughter can continue her life's dream of becoming a sword swallower."

Aubrey offered a nominal smile.

[Pantorrum]

Allen walked into the large mansion known as the White House. He had cleared security at the gate and was finally walking up to the desk where he would receive a visitors pass. It took a few moments, but soon enough he put it around his neck and awaited his Secret Service Escort. While waiting, he took time to enjoy the beautiful painting hanging before him.

It didn't take long for the escort to arrive, and take him to the Chief of Staff's office. He had been scheduled to meet with him to discuss a matter that Fitch found pressing. The President had yet to nominate a replacement for the Director of National Intelligence. And Fitch felt he was perfect for the job. Not only had he been the current Director's number 2, but he was probably one of the most experienced people in the intelligence community.

He was here now to convince the Chief of Staff that he was the best choice for the job. That he knew what there was to know about the various Intelligence Community members, and that he was an honorable and trustworthy person. To convince him that he wanted to bring change to the intelligence community, to make it more efficient and to bring it 100% into compliance.

[Of Herbshire]

I've already applied for registration into the RP, just waiting for approval

/skip

[Prolieum]

January 21, 2017

Oval Office

Seated in the chair behind the Resolute Desk, Cal was in the midst of his first photo-op moment of his administration, and was moments away from taking its first real steps.

First steps without leaving a chair Cal grinned to himself.

He tapped he fingers on the desk, feeling nervousness creep in on him. Running around the White House, he was the big man on campus. Even though he wasn't leaving the chair, he was jumping into the big pool-people who'd been doing this far, far longer than he had-some who'd been doing it longer than he'd been alive-and many of them were ready to prey on his inexperience, as optimistic as he tried to be about the situation. All he had to do was remember that he was the one speaking from the position of power. He had the influence. He had the economy. Heck, if it came to it, he had the nukes.

Of course, the fact that he was defaulting to thinking about nukes wasn't exactly a helpful attitude to have when making cheery first greetings. He wasn't negotiating deals, just giving a few salutations, exchanging a few lines, and going down the list. He had the whole crew dealing with the telecom side of it all. All he had to do was pick up the phone.

So he did.


"Namaste, Mr. Prime Minister. The honor is mine, of course. You're the first man I've come to call. Yes, I hope that we can move towards a more productive relationship..."

"I'm sorry Your Excellency, but that is my position, and I don't intend to move from it. Yes, I understand the precedent. No, I don't believe-the condition is clear, Your Excellency. If you believe that is what you have to do. We will hopefully speak in person, Your Excellency. No, I'm sorry. Good day..."

*Chuckling* "No, Your Excellency, I'm sorry to say that she didn't vote for you. I'll be sure to tell her. She'll get a kick out of that..."

"Mr. President, it's an honor to speak with you. I am doing well-probably colder than you are, but well. *Grinning* Yes, I'd say I'm pretty happy that he didn't win it too..."

"I'm glad I managed to avoid Carrie's weaknesses too, Mr. President. I'm glad to have that option of communication...

"I would be all to happy to return, Your Excellency, as soon as I am able-yours is a beautiful country. Yes, I really have, haven't I? You'll just have to put together some better competition..."

"Mr. President-Mr. President, I assure you of our capability, and my resolve. Don't mistake inexperience for weakness, Mr. President. I haven't yet learned how to give up..."

"Your Excellency, I hope that we can avoid the mistakes of the interactions earlier in this campaign...I do believe that discretion is important in these cases, Madam President, but that does not preclude action...."

"The situation is manageable, Madame Prime Minister, but it may be in our best interests to discuss the current Ambassadorial situation....Yes-well, I think we can both agree that things will function more smoothly without incidents such as those popping up...."

"Yes, congratulations on your victory, Mr. President. I understand that it was quite a contest. I hope relationships between both of our administrations may be fruitful..."

"It truly is an honor, Your Excellency. I hope that though our peoples possess many differences, that we may together find those things in common which may bring us together..."

"Mr. President, I cannot say to necessarily expect...flexibility, but...our relationship together, I would hope to be a working relationship towards certain common goals..."

"I cannot say that I reject those statements, Your Majesty, but I do not think that we need let them come between us. I see our relationship as one moving forward, rather than staying in the status quo, and I think that a joint commitment to progress can lead to changes that will benefit us both..."

"Your Excellency, yes-Your Excellency-Mr. President, please-Your Excellency, we've moved beyond that. Yes, I understand, Your Excellency-no, Your Excellency, that doesn't mean-Your Excellency, if you will allow me to speak for a moment..."

"I think you will find I'm as committed to that process of peace as anyone, Mr. President. Yes-I do hope that we can have an opportunity to meet. I don't believe your people should be left by the wayside..."

"From what I've heard, Your Majesty, you're not afraid of the fight yourself...Yes, it will be a full commitment, and I have no doubt that it will be a full victory as well..."

"Your Excellency, I am certain that you've heard my position on such overreach, and I assure you that it was not simply idle rhetoric...that breach of trust-it is my full and total intention to move back towards trust by taking apart the apparatus that caused this breach between us in the first place..."

"I take your term as a great sign of things to come, Mr. President, and I'd hope to further that progress, and I do believe you to be the vessel for it....continuing in moving forward, Mr. President, I can see a friendship between us...."

"I see no reason that our special relationship cannot continue, Madame Prime Minister. Your people have made their decision, but I don't think you or I take that to be any kind of preference for separation between us..."

"We did seem to pass by each other, Mr. President, and we must be sure we do not miss each other again...yes, I do hope we can move beyond your predecessor...use that as motivation to move forward rather than dwell too long on it...well Mr. President, if you are hosting again, I can certainly promise our attendance..."

"Well, Your Excellency, it seems we are both quite new at this...I won't begrudge you the head start, but I might begrudge you your work environment..."

"Your Excellency, I am glad to speak to you. Yes-well-yes, thank you, Your Excellency, I am glad we have some commonalities in that area...yes, I do think you have been somewhat more engaged in that...

"I hope that continued openness can be a goal between us, Madame President....I do believe that most recently adjustment has benefitted us both, and I believe that continuing down that path will bring great benefit to us both, and perhaps others as well..."

"Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, I do think it is a good deal, and I agree that we should respect it...Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, of course-I don't have any problem with the boats..."

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

Denisevich was seated behind his desk donning both jacket and glasses. His fifth cup of coffee still steamed on the desk in front of him.

As Allen Fitch walked in the door, he stood to shake the man's hand.

"Welcome to the West Wing, Mr. Fitch."

[Pantorrum]

West Wing, White House

Denisevich was seated behind his desk donning both jacket and glasses. His fifth cup of coffee still steamed on the desk in front of him.

As Allen Fitch walked in the door, he stood to shake the man's hand.

"Welcome to the West Wing, Mr. Fitch."

Fitch reached out, a smile on his face.
"Oh, thank you very much sir. It's an honor to be here, it's been some time since I last stepped foot in this building." he sat down after shaking the Chief of Staff's hand.

"Before we start, I just want to say that I have tremendous respect for the President and everything he's trying to do. And if given the opportunity, I believe I can help the President accomplish key pieces of his agenda. I'm very grateful to have this meeting with you. I was worried the President, and most definitely his Chief of Staff, would be far to busy to meet with the likes of me."

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

"We are very busy indeed. Mr. Fitch, we can spare the small talk and speak candidly. You have had a long and successful career in Intelligence, and as you know, President Reed still has quite a few Intelligence appointments to make."

Denisevich took a sip of coffee, then snapped his fingers to the staffer standing by the door. The young man came up, and quietly asked Fitch if he would like a drink.

"But Mr. Fitch, by all means, sell yourself to me." He smiled softly, peering at the man through his glasses.

[Pantorrum]

West Wing, White House

"We are very busy indeed. Mr. Fitch, we can spare the small talk and speak candidly. You have had a long and successful career in Intelligence, and as you know, President Reed still has quite a few Intelligence appointments to make."

Denisevich took a sip of coffee, then snapped his fingers to the staffer standing by the door. The young man came up, and quietly asked Fitch if he would like a drink.

"But Mr. Fitch, by all means, sell yourself to me." He smiled softly, peering at the man through his glasses.

Fitch leaned in as the young man asked if he would like a drink. After the Chief of Staff was done speaking, Fitch nodded and whispered back. "Coffee. Black, no cream, no sugar. thank you."

He then turned back to Denisevich. "Of course, forgive me. We'll, you said yourself that I have had a long and established career in the intelligence community. I've been on confidential missions in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt. I've carried out missions and collected intelligence without ever being detected. But, of course, my field abilities matter little in any presidential appointment. But I thought it might comfort you to know that I have experience in the field and in the administration. I served years in the Criminal Justice system as well, developing an understanding of how it works, and creating methods to better facilitate for the flow of information at the FBI. When I moved to the CIA, after spending several years in the countries I mentioned before, I was appointed by the President's predecessor to the position of Deputy Director of the CIA. Here, I built up experience and worked my hardest to maintain the rule of law in the agency. If I may speak openly with you, the CIA has been involved in a number of operations that I am morally opposed to. And that I think the President would be opposed to as well. I try my best, however, to keep Intelligence what it should be. The gathering of intelligence on enemies to democracy, not Americans. I over saw several operations abroad, operations that gathered vital intelligence to US military efforts that I do belief resulted in a much more favorable outcome for us. Due to my success, I would eventually be appointed to the position of Principle Deputy Director of National Intelligence, as I'm sure you know. I didn't spend as much time at the position as I would have liked, though. After 7 years I left over a moral opposition to something I found appalling. Certain activities I observed were in direct violation of privacy rights, something I would not stand for. I resigned and left the post, rather than leak information. I was opposed to the project, but there was one thing I would never do. Leak anything that compromised the security of this country." He paused, sipping the coffee that the aid had returned to him with.

"I know everything there is to know about the Intelligence Community. All the good, all the bad. In short, I know the day to day workings of the agencies, I know the operations abroad, I know key allied intelligence contacts in foreign countries personally, and the best thing of all is that I have a moral compass. I'm honest, dependable, and always effective. Unlike so many in our great intelligence community, I have never and will never condone or do anything in violation of the law. I believe in transparency when possible and conformance always. I left my job, my career, because there were egregious violations of the US Constitution. The 4th through 8th Amendments are codes that should keep the Intelligence Community in line, but they are so often trampled on. Something I always stood against. I want to transform the Intelligence Community into a 100% law abiding, effective association of agencies. I want to streamline the intelligence process, and shut down anything that is questionably legal. I've waited so long for an administration to come along that shares my values. An administration that cares about the law, that cares about decency. And it's finally here. And I want to do my part to help make our Intelligence Community what it should be."

[Prolieum]

January 27, 2017

Family Theatre

One of the perks of the Presidency, Cal had incidentally learned, was apparently a privileged relationship with Hollywood. Presidents in the past had had-and now he also did-the ability to call up just about any film in theatres, or even before they were in theatres, and have them sent over to the White House to be screened here, in the Executive Residence. The last Hollywood President had revamped the whole place, put it all in red-made it looks pretty nice, actually, and this was the first time that Cal was getting the chance to use it.

He wasn't watching a movie, though, not today, though maybe he'd consider asking about screening the LEGO Batman Movie at some point, even as a Superman guy himself. No, he'd had the projector hooked up to CSPAN instead, to see his amendment pass Congress, and had even managed to rope a reluctant Aubrey into taking a seat on the recliner next to him. His hand now rested on top of hers in the otherwise empty room as the Senate Floor was screened.

"There it is." He smiled, pointing out the matter to Aubrey as if she could not see perfectly well for himself. She attempted a smile in return anyways-he was clearly excited about this.

"Come one. Lie back a little." She nudged him. Cal was leaning forward, closer to the screen, but somewhat reluctantly relented as she rubbed his back, adjusting himself in the seat as she removed her hand.

Now there was only to watch.

"A little aggressive." He conceded as the Senator from Vermont leapt into questioning, noting the slight oddity of it, but dismissing it off to the side. Aubrey glanced over to her husband as he intently watched the screen, not noticing her, with a look of some concern. She had not yet forgotten the last meeting, or her take on the gentlemen holding the floor at the moment.

A few minutes later, he scowled. "That amendment is written just fine!"

Aubrey rubbed Cal's hand in hers with her thumb, comfortingly. This was not moving in a positive direction.

"That's just a lie. That's totally wrong." Cal pointlessly said at the screen, raising his hand slightly and then dropping it, an irate energy leaving him to tape his fingers on the right armwrest.

"He needs to shut up...." Cal fumed.

"At least someone on that floor is paying attention." He begrudgingly let himself compliment at Villanueva de Peña's intervention.

"Now he's....no, he's going to..." the President's temper flared.

"Cal!" His wife's sharp, rather urgent call snapped him back to focus, and he realized he'd started to unconciously squeeze her hand like a stress ball.

"Oh, no, Aubs-I'm sorry..." he immediately opened his grip, moved out of the chair to look more closely at the hand.

"Cal." Aubrey repeated, this time without the urgency with open firmness. "I'm fine. But you need to calm down..."

"You just saw all of that!" he pointed accusingly at the screen with a sweep of his broad arm. "You remember what he said!"

"Yes, Cal, I do." Aubrey put both of her hands on his shoulders. "I also remember what he said when we were talking about me, remember?" She bit her lip-this was turning into an "I told you so", and that wasn't going to be helpful. She did her best to think up a more conciliatory word choice, not her strong suit.

"Look, it doesn't matter what he said before. We just...." She couldn't find the words.

"Of course it matters." Cal, still gripping his anger tightly, returned, sliding her hands off of him to turn and look at the screen again. "That, this-none of this is trust."

Aubrey started to raise her voice to speak again, but noticed Villanueva de Peña taking over the helm on screen, and decided staying quiet and hoping that was the end of that was the better strategy.

Then Lane started talking.

Even steamed, Cal watched, silently, through the initial questions.

"That number's wrong. Massively wrong." He observed at Brankers's estimate, voice flat and emotionless.

"I don't even know where this is coming from." He seethed as the matter continued, some perplexion worming in on his anger.

"Blast him." Cal finally reached his culmination, dropping back into the chair. "Blast that liar. This-unbelievable."

Aubrey wondered if he even remembered she was still here.

Cal's head shook back and forth one more time.

"Unbelievable."

[Sanabel]

West Wing, White House

"The President certainly will admire your moral position. And your plans to make our national intelligence agencies more streamlined and effective while remaining within the confines of the law is admirable."

Denisevich took another sip of coffee.

"But what are your thoughts on Mr. Reed's foreign policy plans?"

[Sanabel]

Family Theater, Executive Residence, White House

Denisevich finished texting Breckenridge, a small victory in what was likely to blow into a war with Fowler.

The West Wing staff was gathered around a few TVs, playing CNN, TNS, and C-Span. No one could believe that this hodge podge group of Senate Republicans had challenged the president on his first legislative proposal.

He sent out a quick Tweet, printed out an email from Fowler that he had received earlier, and half jogged out of the West Wing and into the executive residence.

He entered the theater, and nodded to Aubrey. Then, he walked up to Reed and handed him a copy of the email.

"I've already swayed Breckenridge to cease. This," he pointed to the printed email, "Is a declaration of war. We have to fire back now, Mr. President."

[Pantorrum]

Fitch nodded. Drinking some more of his coffee, he took a precious moment to think about his next words. He wasn’t all in favor of the Presidents foreign policy, but he couldn’t say it was that bad.

“I think I can say that the presidents foreign policy is in the best interest in the country. He’s taking all the right steps to help secure the Middle East and protect people from the dangers imposed by radical Islam. His no fly zone over Syria is a strong move that I hope he will stick to. Keeping aircraft out of the Syrian skies can help keep foreign interests out, protect civilians, and bring the crisis to a swifter end. I also think his efforts with Russia are admirable. Wanting to built a better, closer knit world is always a good objective. However I would caution him to be careful. They cannot be easily trusted. The russians goals may align with us now, to destroy ISIS. But they might not always. When the wars over, it needs to be made clear that no foreign power can occupy Syria or Iraq. I strongly support his position that we are not the police of the world. That we should not send our forces to die in an endless conflict just to occupy and play nation building. Working with Russia and our allies, we can destroy the Islamic State and be done with it. I appreciate his straight forward approach. His desire to build relationships is the mark of an iconic leader, and his goal of fighting only wars that need to be fought is the mark of a great commander. I believe he’s directing us, and by extension the world, in the right direction.”

[Prolieum]

January 27, 2017

Family Theatre

Aubrey took the opportunity to mouth a silent word of warning at Denisevich as he approached the President.

"Careful."

She stepped back towards the corner, mindful of the situation, and leaned against the wall to watch the two, covering anxiety over with crossed arms.

Cal, tearing his eyes away from the screen, didn't even notice, so intent was he on the printout Denisevich handed to him, taking it with somewhat more force than was necessary.

He tore through the paper with his eyes, murmuring as he read it, unconsciously.

"Short of the White House-he..mmrrgghhm. Rammed through before...he! grghrgh. Support and fulfill-he..."

Cal had the urge to crumble the paper into a tiny ball-or rip it up, but refrained from both, instead looking down to catch Denisevich's eye.

"Reconciliation", he says. He's trying to destroy this thing."

There was a moment of silence, with Fowler's voice on the Senate Floor marking the only sound. Reed let out a very long, very slow, breath.

"Who does he have with him?"

[Sanabel]

White House, West Wing

Denisevich nodded, and took a few notes.

"Mr. Fitch, what can you do to help the United States regain its footing internationally after the debacle with Turkey and NATO, as well as the Garastaer Incident."

[Sanabel]

Family Theater, Executive Residence, White House

Denisevich failed to stifle and awkward chuckle. "He's got a team of the most unwhippable GOP senators on his side. Diane Lane, our friend Egazarian, and the illustrious Carter. I've already swayed Breckenridge, as I've said."

He took a step back to face the President.

" I'd say Winslow is guilty by her inability to keep them under heel."

[Prolieum]

January 27, 2017

Family Theatre

Aubrey buried her face in her palm as Cal gritted his teeth. "Egazarian again....."

He shook his head, not shaking away the anger, but clearing it somewhat, as Amaras spoke in the background. "I don't know what we're supposed to do to bring Carter back in. He's..." He just let the sentence trail off.