Anthony DeCosmo - Schism

Evan took a moment to make eye contact with the reporters and, most important, the camera lens.

"The intelligent life forms of the galaxy came together for a pre-emptive strike on mankind before our technology could turn us into a threat to other civilizations. This was not a decision made lightly and one that went against the otherwise peaceful nature of these cultures. Before we pass judgment, consider that pre-emptive war has been a distasteful but common action among our own race. While we cannot excuse this act of hostility that has brought misery to our world, we must come to terms with the reality of our nature."

Evan cast his eyes down, shook his head in sadness, and sighed: the perfect picture of a man who has accepted the faults of his people.

"Still, I am not one to give up easily; not when the fate of my people is at stake. In recent days I have worked closely with Chancellor D'Trayne who has been in contact with the other races. Based on his experience in California, he managed to convince the invaders that there is another way besides war without end. He has convinced his brethren that the people of this nation can overcome their instinct for violence, that we can be good neighbors, that there can be an end to the struggle that has already cost so much to all sides.

"As I have explained to the Chancellor, I cannot speak for all of humanity. I can only speak for those of us in our tiny nation. I have assured him that our people seek peace. I have assured him that we only want to live our lives and return to the world we knew before the invaders came. He has accepted these assurances, with conditions to ensure the cease-fire holds." Murmurs rolled through the audience. "Conditions?" "Cease-fire?" "Assurances?" Evan calmed the gathered with a wave of his hand.

"Our aggressive military campaign will end. We will live within the boundaries of the continental United States, and as long as we do so there will be no more attacks, no more war. In a manner similar to United Nations peacekeeping missions in the old world, Witiko observers will be positioned throughout our nation and government so as to monitor our good intent. We will demobilize three of our eight active army divisions and several of our combat air wings. The dreadnoughts will be restricted to flights within our borders and K9 breeding programs will be curtailed. With our defensive line on the east coast and the eventual construction of a similar line off California, we will know security and will not need such a large military force. Instead, demobilized troops will either transfer to Internal Security or…" Evan licked his lips, smiled, and in a fatherly voice told, "…or they can go home. They can go home to be with their families, to raise their children, to build farms or businesses. In short, they can go home and live again; live without war. In short, life will return to normal."

Again, worried looks throughout the press corp.

"My friends," Evan assured, "the truth is that we have won the war. Our soldiers and the workers at home have removed the organized alien armies from our lands. We can be proud of their sacrifice. Our choice now is either to risk losing all we've gained by continuing this fight to foreign lands or celebrating our victory and sheathing our swords. We will maintain a strong home defense to secure our borders and monitor the activities of the newcomers to our planet. Many details remain to be reconciled and much work must be done to transition from a war footing to a normal way of life. Nonetheless, this is a day for rejoicing. We have known a time of war; now this is our time of peace."

– Another flash bulb, another pose, this time Evan shaking D'Trayne's hand in the Oval office.

"Okay, that will be enough for today, thank you ladies and gentlemen," the middle aged woman with the scar-Evan's Administrative Assistant-hustled the press away leaving the room to the President, D'Trayne, and Ray Roos.

Evan slumped into the chair behind the big desk and D'Trayne paced. Roos watched from a position near the closed door.

"Your media asks a lot of questions," D'Trayne said.

"Yes, all good questions, Chancellor. Guarantees. What kind of verification do we get that you're keeping your end of the bargain? People are understandably wary."

"You have received my word. I will work on getting something in-what did you call it? — 'writing.' But you already appear hesitant in fulfilling your end of the bargain. We originally discussed a fifty-percent demobilization of the armed forces."

Evan stood and jabbed a finger toward the silver alien. "Three divisions for now, Chancellor. No more until I feel comfortable that I have those assurances. I only jumped into this cease-fire announcement so quick because I want the military under control."

"And have you succeeded? Are your internal enemies no longer a concern?"

Roos interrupted the conversation, "Well, there, hold on for a sec, this is where I've got a little cold water to throw on this parade." Ray tapped his thumb on his thigh as he told them, "My folks have gone through the ashes for almost a week now and, well-" D'Trayne answered for Roos, "You have not yet found the body of this Knox person?" Evan's face turned to rock. Roos explained, "We pulled out our people and the Chancellor's officers, but-to put a fine point on it-no Knox." "Maybe," D'Trayne hoped, "he was vaporized in the explosion." "No," Evan grunted. "Ray is telling us that Gordon Knox got away." "Yeah, well, I figure that's about right."

D'Trayne snarled at the President, "This vendetta of yours may upset our arrangement. If he is alive, why has he not come forward?"

"That ain't his style," Roos explained. "He'll lay low and try to figure this out."

"I will not have our newfound peace disrupted by a barbarian like Knox," Evan insisted and stared at Ray to make the point that the job must be finished, yet the expression on the Director's face gave Evan pause. "What? What more is there?"

"Well, now, might be nothing but I got a little nugget from Tucker in New Jersey."

"Tucker?"

Evan answered D'Trayne, "The man in charge of security for the Stone family."

"He thinks Ashley got a visit from someone, sort of covert-like the other day."

Evan guessed, "Knox?"

"No. No, that's not it," Roos' face twisted as he tried to piece together the puzzle. "Tucker thinks he heard a name. He thinks he heard the name 'Forest.' Sounds to me like that army-gal that did a lot of Stone's dirty work."

"Captain Nina Forest," Evan said aloud. He recalled Nina and Trevor being close. He knew of their relationship. He knew it had ended but not given it much thought even though he had helped save her life during the Battle of Five Armies.

"That's what I'm thinking," Roos agreed. "And here's the funny part. I did a little snooping and it seems Captain Forest just got sent down to Florida by General Jerry Shepherd."

Evan snapped his fingers and said, "Ashley is suspicious. She has Nina looking into this. Maybe trying to hook up with Knox."

"Of course she's suspicious," Roos said. "If her hubby's offing wasn't enough, then old Gordo dying in a house fire would be more then plenty to start her radar beeping."

D'Trayne tried to keep pace with the conversation, "You said no one would miss Knox."

Evan mumbled, "No one in the public. Knox kept a low profile and did not have many friends outside of his own agency."

Roos told D'Trayne, "Ashley knew Knox rubbed the President here the wrong way. Got to figure she'd be asking questions. Another good reason to send her and the rug rat packing."

Evan guessed, "She went to Miami, didn't she?"

"Now how'd you know that?" Roos asked.

"Gordon Knox was always pestering Shepherd and Brewer to get him autographed footballs and jerseys from Woody Ross. Ross played football at the University of Miami before turning pro. I remember Knox saying something in a meeting one time about Miami being his true home. I'll bet he's moved down there. I'll bet she's going to meet him."