Anthony DeCosmo - Schism

Dante offered, "Evan can appoint people who were Trevor's friends as advisors, plus the Senate will provide a check, just like the old President. That's what this country used to have, so it will be familiar, people will take to it quick."

Evan shook his head as if disappointed and said, "I’m afraid there is a certain amount of tension in regards to the military-intelligence complex. Many people fear the influence of this threat, real or imagined."

"Then you appoint the right people," Jon said, "in visible jobs. People who are trusted for their independent thinking. Me? I want none of it."

"Someone must command our armies. I can think of no one better than you."

"But not visible," Jon told Evan in a voice that sounded relieved, "As long as I’m visible people might think I’m pulling the strings. Find the right people, Evan, and put together a new government."

Jon pointed to a reporter in the front row who said, "Jim Huffman, New American Press. So we're to believe that the military is just going to hand over control of the government?"

Several beads of water collected on Huffman's glasses. Like half of the reporters in front of the mansion, he did not have an umbrella to combat the sudden sun shower. The VIPs-Brewer, Godfrey, and the rest-spoke from the mansion's covered front porch.

Jon glanced at Evan who stood next to him at a bland podium. The President politely nodded as a signal that the General should respond. Indeed, the two came across as positively chummy on the porch that morning; a morning two days after Jon decided that the first thing he should do as Emperor was to end the existence of the Emperor's position.

"Well, the military was never completely in control of the Government. Trevor focused on fighting the war, but he dealt with all aspects of running the nation. I think what's happening here is that we're getting better organized and trying to change over to a full-blown democracy. I feel this is the best way to go about things because there is no way myself or anyone could fill the shoes of Trevor Stone."

Another reporter blurted, "Are you doing this because you're afraid of all the problems you faced three years ago?"

Evan Godfrey marched to the microphone with focused eyes radiating indignation.

"Jon Brewer has never been afraid of anything in his life. It takes courage to embrace change. It takes courage to plot a new direction for our great nation. Speaking for myself, I am humbled by his bravery in this."

Evan then selected the next question from the press pool. The wind blew a curtain of drizzle across the stage.

"Could you recap the major changes again? Is the new office of the President simply a new word for Emperor?"

"Not at all," Evan smiled as if teaching simple children. "Jon felt that the easiest way to make the first steps toward change was to morph my position as President of the Senate into a new executive branch. His last batch of orders as Emperor made this official. As such, I have resigned my position as Senator. While we are still working out the finer details, we will use the old American presidency as the model. The legislative branch will have the responsibility of introducing legislation and the President will either veto or sign off on those bills."

The reporter followed up, "Aren't you concerned that having a new 'President' without a constitution defining the position could lead to despotism? What checks exist on your power?"

"I resent the implication of that question. No one has worked harder for democracy than I. Yes, there are plenty of gray areas right now but I will work with Jon, the old Imperial Council, and the Senate to answer those questions."

The reporter would not let it go: "So you will be Commander and Chief? Does that mean Evan Godfrey is in charge of the armed forces?"

"As I mentioned, one of my first acts was to appoint Dante Jones Secretary of Defense." Dante, standing behind Evan, waved. Evan went on, "General Jon Brewer is the most experienced of our officers. He will maintain operational control over the military. However, the army is now under civilian control, just as it was in the old days. But, as I said before, Dante was a lifelong friend of Trevor Stone so you can trust that the oversight of military matters by the administration will be done in a manner consistent with Trevor's vision."

"Do you mean to say," another reporter joined in, "that the war will continue?"

Evan answered, "We remain at war. As President, I will give the military all the support and resources they require to fight for victory, although as the new system is developed I will need the Senate's help through a declaration of war and other legislative mechanisms."

Huffman, from the New American Press, asked another question: "Mr. President, how do you reconcile the policy you just articulated with your past, anti-war stance?"

"I have never been in favor of alien forces occupying American lands or enslaving human beings. These conditions are unacceptable. I have, on many occasions, protested the manner in which the war was prosecuted or offered counter-proposals on how to achieve our strategic goals. But we will fight this fight until we achieve victory. With Jon Brewer leading our armies and Dante Jones overseeing the military, I know we will finish the job Trevor Stone started."

"Doug Coates, Atlanta Times. If Dante Jones has been promoted to Secretary of Defense, who will oversee Internal Security?"

"Ah, yes, well here is another example of how Trevor Stone's influence will be seen throughout my administration. The new Director of Internal Security is Ray Roos, the man who served as Trevor's personal Chief of Security. Ray isn't here right now, I'm afraid, but I spoke to him by phone and he expressed his commitment to carrying on and even improving the fine work Dante did. Also, Jim Hutch will occupy the position of Labor Secretary. He's not here today, either, but you know him from his work in the unions. That alone should help fix this economy."

Coates followed up, "So you're just appointing your secretaries? If your Presidency is to be modeled after the old American presidency, shouldn't your advisors be subjected to congressional review? In this case, wouldn't that be the Imperial Senate?"

Evan shifted, a little, but found an answer without skipping more than a beat.

"We are in an unusual situation. With the economy in shambles and a war to fight, we thought it important to streamline the process. It should be noted that I am actually an interim President. The position I have accepted is a midway point between what used to be the Emperor and what will soon be an Executive Branch elected by the entire population and subject to many checks and balances. One of my first jobs, in fact, is to begin selecting a committee of Senators who will start research on the parameters that will outline the initial stages of a new constitutional convention."

A journalist shouted, "Is there a time table for that?"

Evan raised his hands and assured, "We're working on that. This is going to take time, people. The first order of business is to stabilize the government then we will begin work on all the nuances that will turn us into a full-fledged democracy. Now, I think that ends today's announcement. More information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks. We ask the public to bear with us and have patience. I promise you, everything will work out just fine."

– Omar Nehru originally started tinkering with alien gadgets during the first year of the invasion using a lakeside garage as a laboratory. With the expansion of his department and the constant influx of captured extraterrestrial gear, his operation ballooned. In fact, Omar Nehru's Science and Technology Division operated dozens of locations including test ranges in South Dakota and Tennessee, warehouses in each of the liberated states including a temporary facility in northern California to catalog all the Witiko devices, and auxiliary units for theoretical studies attached to four of the Empire's thirteen functioning universities.