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Chapter Five – The Meeting

The Residence of the Federal President

Nicholas

I took the long route to the reception room, opting to cut through the residence garden where I could breathe the last of the fresh air until I was thrust into the smoke-filled room. I inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp breeze. The residence garden was desirable. It was over 2,000 square meters of luscious green plants, and the ideal environmental simulator regulated the temperature to 22 degrees Celsius all year round for optimal growth.

My watch beeped a five-minute warning.

I took a final inhale before entering the residence. I followed my nose to the conference room. It wasn’t that difficult. Pungent cigar smoke clung to every corner of the palatial home, and I had no doubt that I’d have to send my uniform to the cleaners for a thorough cleaning.

I braced myself before entering the room, where I found many leaders of The Federation conversing over cigars.

“Nice of you to join us, Federal Speaker,” Dillon Spencer, Secretary of the Treasury, lazily greeted me without looking. I nodded and sat, not wanting to engage with the man more than I had to. He was a pretentious fucker with an overinflated ego—a sentiment that could be applied to any man seated at the table.

“Good afternoon, President Peltzer…gentlemen,” I said, not wanting to be rude. I received a gentle nod from the president and grunts of acknowledgment from the rest of the men.

“Now that we’re all accounted for, let’s get started,” President Peltzer announced. “I want to hear from our Secretary of the Treasury (SOT).”

Dillon Spencer opened his leather portfolio and pushed his glasses back before reading his report. “As of this quarter, inflation is rising for the fourth quarter in a row, and from the trajectory, one can assume next quarter will not look much different. Federation Bank has submitted a new monetary payment debt plan.”

He stood from his chair and went around the table, dropping a hefty debt repayment package before us. The men around the table took a few minutes to familiarize themselves with it.

“Federal Speaker Verano, is there a reason why you’re not following along?” SOT Spencer asked snidely.

“What’s the point?” I asked flippantly. “How many different ways can the bank say, ‘Pay us back now’? I’m more interested in your plan on how to get us out of the hole.”

“We have to cut spending.”

I rolled my eyes and tapped my pen on my legal notepad. “That’s fucking obvious. Where are we cutting spending, and how will it affect citizens?”

SOT Spencer glanced at President Peltzer, who wore his usual unreadable mask, but if I had to guess, he wanted to know the same.

“Military budget.”

The room went into an uproar.

“Are you insane?” Aiden Ross, Deputy Assistant of the Secretary of Defense, exclaimed.

“I second that,” Director Jack Mickelson of National Intelligence chimed in.

“The military has the biggest budget; from what I’ve gathered, we might have a surplus this year.”

“A surplus of how much?” DA Ross inquired with a raised brow.

“Five million,” SOT Spencer answered.

I snorted. “That’s all? Five million? That’s a piss in the bucket compared to how much is owed. What part of the budget do you want to skim from?”

“Recruitment, housing, education, and healthcare.”

I was about to argue when President Peltzer raised his hand. “Continue, Secretary Spencer. I’m eager to hear your plan.”

“We spend approximately $450 million on new recruitment yearly. That includes paying the recruiters, who require per diem, plane or rental vehicles, and hotel accommodations. I suggest we pause recruitment for a minimum of one year.”

“And what of the recruiters? Are they to be on sabbatical for a year?” Attorney General Grant Broussard asked.

Secretary Spencer spoke for the next hour, laying out his plan to get us closer to being out of debt. It included not recruiting for the year and having the recruiters fill other open positions, cutting the education program in half, only agreeing to pay for two out of the four years of college, and privatizing military healthcare.

Truthfully, he could’ve devised a more ineffective plan. But his plan, if it went according to plan, would save us $13.5 billion.

“Deputy Assistant, you’re up,” President Peltzer said.

I listened as Deputy Assistant Ross filled us in regarding an explosion in the West District affecting Titan Military Factory. The factory was crucial, producing SAS439 at the president's instruction.

“Who is the culprit?” Director Mickelson questioned. Deputy Assistant Ross seemed hesitant.

“We believe it was a premeditated attack carried out by Anthony Peterson and his faction.

Anthony Fucking Peterson. If Sloane knows what’s good for her, that motherfucker better be dead.

“You believe? What concrete evidence do you have?” President Peltzer asked.

“We didn’t catch him in the act, if that’s what you’re asking.”

President Peltzer sighed and reclined in his chair. “How has this man been able to evade us for so long? He’s been a fugitive for years, committing alleged crimes against The Federation. We need to find him and officially court-martial him. Find him.”

“Yes, sir, President Peltzer.”

Director Mickelson spoke next.

“I ran the polls for the upcoming general election in five months. Mr. President, your approval rating increased by 0.5%. It’s not much, but a win is a win.”

“I’ll take it. Where is this uptick in satisfaction coming from?”

“Due to the announcement of the newly released medical insurance plan that will assist with covering prosthetic production due to illness.”

“Hmph. You would think that would garner more than 0.5%,” President Peltzer commented.

“It’s good considering the opposition who believe that the government shouldn’t be covering these expenses and that citizens should pull themselves up by their bootstrap.”

“Easy to say when they’re a bunch of rich fucks,” I mumbled.

“Anything else?” the president asked.

“We are officially vetting the Director of the Third District Administrative Office nominee.”

“Did we find any dirt on him? I don’t want to appoint anyone corrupt who will cause me to lose my presidency.”

“Something minor. He’s been highly critical of Federal Speaker Verano.”

My brow raised.

“How so?” President Peltzer challenged.

“He made a comment about Speaker Verano carrying out political persecution on your orders by killing former President Wilson. He also mentioned that Speaker Verano killed his classmates and mentor.”

I did. But I had my reasons.

“What’s his background?” I queried.

“Nominee Alex Wu is a first-class citizen, who comes from an extremely wealthy family. According to what I’ve discovered, his family isn’t supportive of his political ambitions and wanted him to take over his father when he retired,” Director Mickelson stated.

Alex Wu…I should add him to Sloane’s list.

The meeting ended an hour later. I left the residence and received a call as I approached my vehicle.

“Speak.”

“Sloane has returned,” Secretary L informed me. I hung up.

Sloane better have good news for me.

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