TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR

Episode 5: WHITE HOUSE GUESTS

A helicopter was floating in the air for several minutes, waiting for two people down there to clear the helipad landing area. Once the code was obtained from one of the officers, the helicopter landed smoothly on the runway. The propeller of the air vehicle was still spinning when the door on the hull of the passenger room was opened.

A man of medium stature and full body, a gray beard, curly hair, as well as being wrapped in a neat white suit came out of the helicopter. Behind him the brown-skinned crooked-nosed lady also came down. When the man wears a suit, the woman is wearing a uniform wrapped in matching colored tunics. The faces of the two seemed to be in a hurry to meet someone, and who else if not the ruler in the building they were visiting at that time.

“Welcome, Mr. Janus..Miss Cointa.” The woman with the eagle pin on her right chest as a sign that she is a member of the White House board approached nervously and thrust her hand to greet her two guests. The two replied to his hand department by leaving a different impression, Mr. Janus feels friendly while the woman is so formal. The woman continued, “President Tramp is waiting for you both.”

“Is that?” Prefect Cointa replied cynically.

“Mari...” said the woman invited the two to follow her.

The helipad is in the White House backyard, which is more than an acre wide, but the runway is made only a few meters from the main building so that guests who come using air vehicles do not need to walk too far.

The park in the White House area they passed through was filled with green shades of grass that seemed to escape the cruel clutches of summer stings. It became something that refreshed the views of the people walking there. The roses that are in the middle of the scene with the accompaniment of the aroma that calms the nerves. When approaching the terrace of the building, the rustling of the fish pond with its shower inevitably tempts the Prefect to look at the koi fish who are swimming cheerfully in the water.

It wasn't until five minutes that they arrived at the Oval Office which was Howard Tramp's den. They entered after the woman knocked on the door and got an answer from inside. He let the two guests in, while he himself closed the door after the two were in the boss's study.

Howard Tramp was standing looking at some TV screens attached to his study holding a coffee cup. The black color in his eye bag shows how the leader of the American country has not gone to sleep so that the coffee in the cup is something that is very important for him.

One of the TVs was airing the latest news from Al-Jizzra Television Station about the latest situation in Iran. On the left side shows the atmosphere of Abadan which is quiet like a ghost town because the residents are afraid of the coming attacks so that they choose to stay inside the house, while on the side of it displays the atmosphere of the city of Tehran where many people have gathered in the city square, each carrying a candle to express his sorrow and cry over the tragic death of General Sulaimandi.

“There has not been any response to date from any of the parliamentarians or the Shah of Iran himself. While grieving, everyone waited for what the next step the government would take regarding this brutal territorial violation.”.

The news anchor's speech was racing with the voice of the broadcaster from another news station on TV next to the TV that was airing news from Iran, “The stock market this morning was carefully opened by investors. Only a few took a correction over the value of the stock at the close of the exchange yesterday afternoon after statements given by Senator Frank Hill at the Press Conference at the Military Defense Event in Michigan.”

“The senator's statement that the attack was necessary to stop the terror against America and that the government was serious about cracking down on threats to the state is likely not taken too seriously given the Michigan Senator is one of the close people Tramp. This is illustrated by a correction that is not too significant, so it can be realized that at this time the market is still anxious about the impact that will occur if the turmoil continues.”.

Howard Tramp drank his coffee then turned to his two guests who were still standing near the door of the study, “Ah, Mr. Janus and Prefect Cointa. It's nice to be able to accept you early in the morning like this. Want coffee?”

“Only when you want to make it yourself, Howard!” Mr. Janus responded.

“You know I never make my own coffee,” Howard Tramp chuckles. “But I can ask someone who can make it quickly for you..” the man walked to his desk. “...and I guarantee it tastes good.”

“Thank you for the offer, Mr. President but no thanks,” Mr. Janus responded. “How about we go straight to the subject.”

“Always serious. The real Janus behind his hospitality.at least that's what people say about you,” Howard Tramp joked.

“And do you know what people say about you, Tramp? Ego-maniacs whose brains are empty,” the woman stands up

defending Mr. Janus.

“Quiet, Clementine,” Mr. Janus held the woman's shoulder to hold her.

The President responded to the Mainland Prefect's remarks casually, “That people say about me is unimportant, Prefect! For me it is more important to achieve my goals because I am a former businessman. And I know the pain of failing to reach your goal when you think everyone supports you.”

“We will start our conversation with more civilized without vilifying each other, agree?” sela Mr's. Janus because Clementine Cointa still wants to avenge Tramp's taunts.

“Please sit down, Mr. Janus...” Tramp waved at the empty chair in front of his empty desk, then looked at Clementine Cointa. “Prefect..”.

“That technology we gave you is not to do such foolishness, Tramp!” Mr. Janus said calmly after sitting in one of the chairs. “The responsibility as the leader of this country is also at the same time the responsibility as a world security guard, especially with your position as one of the United Nations Security Council.”

“Do you really get threats?” Mr. Janus asked back. “You searched the place early to confirm your excessive suspicions?”

“CIA has given me accurate information.”

“Then your CIA sucks! There are no nukes hidden in the fort. The fort was a place of ordinary military activity. There is no harm in the Iraqi army doing its activities there. That's their territory.”

“Maybe our information is wrong! Or maybe the Shah had hidden the nukes before we ransacked the place. Whatever the reason we no longer want to wait for an attack like some President before me. Better preventive way for America.”

“Attacking another country by passing through its territory cannot be called a preventive measure,” commented Clementine Cointa.

"Do you still want to say that it's only a partial action*****, Prefect? What happens when America falls and we can no longer help you hold accountable at the United Nations because of the flea behavior you call ******?”

“That's just a tickle reason for your mistake. In reality, that place is not a nuclear weapons hideout.”

“Maybe, no! But at least General Sulaimandi's death in that place is worth more than finding a nuclear weapons hideout. And that damn guy is definitely more dangerous than any nuclear bullet.”

“So now you want to say this is revenge?” Mr. Janus raised an eyebrow. “Revenge for what reason? He never dealt with your country.”

“Maybe not directly. It's just what he did with the gruesome murder and genocide of the tribes there.I think a lot of people who actually thank me,” Howard Tramp said so confidently.

“Do you think, Shah of Iran will not stay silent after this?” Prefect Cointa asked again. “He didn't touch my phone. And his last reply from the text I sent was his heartache. You know what happens when an eastern person is hurt?”

The President looked at Prefect Cointa for a moment then shrugged, “Let him come. We are ready to welcome it.”

“You're ready to wage war for something absurd?” Mr. Janus asked.

“Doing justice to the criminals of the protected world a country that does not heed the common interests.something you can know how they prepare themselves with their technology and weapons that are always based on nuclear… to me is a must. It feels like that's what you're going to do to someone who threatens order on earth, isn't it?”

“What we will do is none of your business! The virtues we have, the justice we follow, it's something you may not have been able to follow, Mr. Presidents. What is clear is that today there are many people like you out there that we still let live. Janus raised his index finger. “. Just because you made one stupid mistake doesn't mean you can't be fixed.”

Howard Tramp suddenly did not dare to look directly into the eyes of the man before him. The earnestness that is emphasized in Mr. Janus had just made him realize that this man was capable of doing whatever he wanted, even more horribly than what the Shah of Iran might have done.

“Let's just relax, I'm ready to work together as long as it's for the benefit of the country. I'm an easy person to work with, ” said Howard Tramp.

“Then we only ask for one easy request. Hold all your military attacks to that place for a while. And no nukes involved,” said Mr. Janus.

“Easy request,” Tramp smile. “The problem is does the Shah want to do what I will do?”

Mr. Janus smiled back, “It's been our business since long ago.”

“Then we agree. It's just that I'm not sure I can withstand what the American military might do if the Shah of Iran and his men retaliate.”.

“There is a reply or not, again my request is simple,” cut Mr. Janus. “Remain in touch with everything with a cool head. Delay your missile launch..”.

***