The Phoenix Reborn Series. Book 1. The World Burns to Ashes

Declaration of War!

Lincoln woke up early the next morning, and was preparing breakfast in his suite when Emily came in and informed him that Stacy had been given guest quarters the night before, and was inquiring about joining him in the dining hall for breakfast.

“Tell her I am unable to join her in the dining hall as I have already prepared breakfast. If she would care to discuss business and collect the files from last night’s session, she is welcome too.” Lincoln replied as he continued cooking the pancakes he was preparing.

It only took Stacy 5 minutes to arrive on the suite, surprised to find a glass of Orange juice and a cup of coffee waiting for her. “Mr. Pres-“ she began when he stopped her.

“Call me Lincoln please.” He said calmly as he put a plate with 2 pancakes, eggs and bacon in front of her and sat with his own. “Atleast when we are alone, Stacy.”

She blushed a bit as she nodded and tasted the pancakes with maple syrup. She nearly moaned as she loved the flavors of his pancakes. “It is too bad your other skills are in more need, you would make a damn good chef.” She said complimenting him.

“Thanks, but I assure you I am mediocre at best.” He said with a smile as they both ate.

“What are your plans for after your address first thing this morning?” she asked him.

“Planning and Intel strategies with the Joint Chiefs, and I am not sure what else. Most likely not available for lunch or dinner, atleast not until late.” He told her a little disappointed as she pulled a paper out of her briefcase.

“They say I need your authorization to take up a residence in the Executive Hotel.” She said blushing a bit.

He smiled as he grabbed it and glanced over it really quickly. She was requesting a single occupancy dwelling inside of the building. He signed it quickly and handed it back to her. “Why are you blushing? It’s not like you are asking to move into my suite.” He said making her turn scarlet as she thought of that for a moment.

“Well not exactly anyway.” She said quietly as she was embarrassed that she had to do this.

Lincoln had to stop himself from laughing at how she looked, because she knew she was embarrassed to have to ask him so she could have an excuse to be close. “Don’t worry, that would be a long ways off. We both have a lot of work to do to keep everyone safe.”

She smiled at that, and knew he had seen why she was making the request. His mind was too analytical for him not to have guessed. “Well I guess it will give you a reason to stop being a recluse than. They tell me you rarely leave the suite at the moment.” She said smiling as Emily had been concerned about him hiding himself away and always burying himself in his work.

More than once she had come in to brief him on an urgent matter, and he had simply handed her a file with a full analysis, predictions, and his orders to make the results the best for the Empire.

“It just might, I see Ms. Peterson thinks you could be an ally to force me to leave more?” he asked her.

“She mentioned something about it having been nearly 3 weeks now.” Stacy admitted as they both had some time before they had to leave.

“Well it seems others are onto us. I guess the question becomes are you comfortable with being in a public relationship so soon?” he asked her making her blush.

“Is that what this is?” she asked as she blushed a little not realizing she was suddenly terrified to hear the answer.

“You tell me, of the two of us you have far more experience than I do.” He replied blushing himself.

Stacy nodded as she knew he wasn’t joking. “Not even a kiss?” she asked him as she stood up.

“Not even a crush, fraternization was against the code of conduct at West Point. I began my studies at 12, when I graduated High School. Had my bachelor’s and was a Lieutenant at 14. Entered my last training program at 17, and it took me 5 years to complete the doctorate. That is how I graduated as the Youngest Colonel Ever. Despite my age, and because both of my parents deaths made me a ward of the state, I was allowed to join at an extremely young age.” He told her more of what he had gone through. All but his last 3 years at West Point we’re sealed and classified, not even he could Grant access to view them. Despite needing his permission.

“Well, it seems I will have to teach you a few things.” She said as she stepped closer as he was still sitting. She leaned in slowly, enjoying his scent as she slowly closed the distance and kissed him deeply. She felt his surprise turn into curiosity quickly as she used her tongue to lick his lips and caused him to open them so she could slide her tongue into his mouth. He tasted good as she wrapped her arms around his neck before she turned a bit and sat on his lap. She chuckled as she felt him getting hard, and knew she was going to regret this later as she got a little wet herself. She broke the kiss a moment later, and looked into his eyes. “I do not mind if anyone knows, as what we have all lost must be left in the past. We can let it shape our future, however if we let it effect what we do, we can never move past it.”

“Well this is definitely interesting, and I was not aware a simple action could be so exciting.” He said making her laugh as she moved closer again and whispered in his ear.

“Wait until your doing that to my other lips while I kiss something else.” She said wiggling on his hardness a little to prove her point before she stood up and watched as he realized what she was implying as she walked out of his suite so she could go change before they left in an hour.

Lincoln was waiting in the car when Stacy walked out of the door, and the driver opened it for her. She got in thinking she would have to wait, and was glad she had had enough time to atleast partially satisfy herself while she showered.

“Lincoln.” She said smiling as she sat in the car and the door was closed for her.

“You will be pleased to know that your living assignment while in the temporary Capitol has been secured. If you wish I can have your items brought over and delivered to your new accomodations.” He said handing her an envelope. It had her assigned room key, and he had managed to arrange it so that her room was directly across from his suite. Emily had left it open for just this eventuality when they established this would be the Executive Branch Headquarters.

“Thank you, it would be greatly appreciated. I am finding between my new responsibilities and interests that I have little time to do much else.” She said blushing just a bit as he did the same.

“I can imagine what you were interested in this morning.” He replied making her smile.

“No less than you were.” She said admitting it. “How will this work though?” she asked as she closed the partition between them and the driver.

Lincoln blushed a bit more, as he had absolutely no idea how to even approach the subject. “You’re asking me?”

Stacy smiled as she realized just how much she would be able to teach him, as well as how much she would be able to tease him. “Well you do have a say in it.” She said making her voice even sexier than normal.

He smiled as he leaned in to whisper in her ear, he didn’t know how much he trusted the partition. “I have heard most women like to train their men how to please them. Lucky for you I am a blank canvas.” He whispered before he sucked on her ear lobe for a moment and kissed her neck.

Stacy was almost instantly turned on by what he said, and what he had just done. “You could be the death of me.” She whispered back as she grabbed his hand that was rubbing her thigh. “If you don’t stop, you will be getting your first lesson in this car.”

Lincoln blushed as he realized that she essentially told him that because of what he had done and said she was extremely turned on at the moment. “That would be a bad thing?” he asked as he moved his hand away smiling.

“Most other days, no. Today however, we have a lot to do, and that would make us very late.” She said as they entered the parking garage for the Senate Chamber.

“It is not like they could start without us.” He said slyly clearing saying it just to tease her a bit.

“For someone with no experience, you sure do know how to make a girl wet.” She said knowing what she would find when she went to the bathroom. Her statement made him laugh as the car stopped and the Porter opened the door. She exited the vehicle, and made her way inside before he could stop her and make her more uncomfortable before her day began. She knew she was going to make him pay when she went into her office and got an idea.

Lincoln walked into his temporary office, and found that Emily was waiting for him. “Mr. President, the Joint Chiefs are requesting a meeting when you have a moment available.” She told him.

“My address should not take more than an hour, and I am sure there is an office here we can utilize.” He replied.

“I will make the arrangements, what time should I schedule lunch for?” she asked.

“1300, there are a few things we must discuss before much more time passes.” Lincoln said as they entered the small antechamber off of the new Congressional Hall.

He did not have to wait long, and he could hear the activity of Stacy calling them all to order and informing them that the President would be issuing an address. He walked out of the office and into the Hall, all of the Senators and Representatives politely applauded as he made the walk to the podium.

Lincoln cleared his throat as the applause died down and the Delegates took their seats. "Good morning ladies and gentlemen, this alert is as much to inform our own people of what is about to occur, and warn our neighbors to the South. Last night at 2120 hours, an engagement between Mexican Federal Armed Forces and our own occurred. Our troops were fired upon by a squad of 15 men, that they then eliminated. The videos from all soldiers is now part of the public record, and anyone who desires can pursue it. I ask this body to authorize lethal force should any forces of another Nations Armed Forces should cross into our territory again. I also ask that should the Mexican Federal Forces fire on our patrols again, that we accept their Declaration of War and respond with all force necessary to ensure we never face a threat from them again. To paraphrase Justice Carlton Reeves, 'It is no longer wise to cede power to the past.'

"As such we must not allow acts of aggression to go unanswered, especially acts committed against us on our own lands. However we must ensure that the weapons that nearly destroyed us are never used again, but until we can destroy all of them we must be ready, willing and able to ensure that if our enemies wish to destroy us with them, we will respond in kind.

"Mexico has been our ally on the past, and we welcome them to be once again. However, if their forces attack us again, or cross into the territory of the United States again, we will see it as an act of War. If any further provocation is forthcoming, we will respond in kind. Except we will not stop until the threat is eliminated, and that it will never present a threat to our survival again. The United States Republic was focused on uniting the World through peace. We will never repeat that mistake again, and will only work with those that wish to work with us towards mutual goals. Those that wish to challenge our might, will find that the North American Empire is nothing like the weak Nation of the past.

"We are stronger than we were before, and in remembrance of those who lost their lives not just in our Empire, but across the globe, we reset our calendar to match the day that the new world rose. That the day the bombs fell forever be remembered by those who follow us, and that the day never be forgotten. To do so, I hope we can agree that it is our new Great Event, and those that lost their lives are enough to reset our calendar to day 0. On order to keep things simple, we will simply move our remembrance of the New Year to the day after the bombs fell." he said knowing that it was really close to midnight in the United States.

As soon as he finished speaking there was a round of applause among the Senators and Representatives as a cheer began. They were all impressed that not only had he informed them days in advance, but had also warned their neighbors to the South that should they continue their actions the response would be severe. None of them had expected him to also suggest such a drastic move, to remember the past for the future generations.

"Thank you Emperor Masters, and I assure you we take our security as seriously as any. As such our Commander has asked we declare a state of Emergency so that he may have the authority to deal with our now unfriendly neighbors South of our border." Stacy said as one of the many representatives stood.

"Senator Walter Montgomery of base 115 will second the motion of our Emperor." the man said proudly before sitting.

As soon as it had been done the voting unlocked, and according to the rules they had 5 minutes to complete their vote.

Lincoln watched as the in favor column quickly had names attached to it as the tally counter moved with each addition. By the time it had finished, they had unanimously approved the Emergency Powers to deal with the most current threat.

"Thank you Congressmen and Women, moving to our next piece of business. Emperor Masters has requested that should the Mexican Federal Armed Forces attack us again, we move to an immediate state of War. That any attack shall be brutally responded too, and the attack shall not stop until there can never be a threat again." Stacy said as the text of his bill came up. They had been given 6 hours to review it, and it was extremely simple. "I move we pass this piece of business by unanimous consent. Are there any objections?" she asked all of them. Under the rules any one of them could object and force a vote. A full minute passed with no one saying a word, and the screen turned green indicating it had passed by unanimous consent.

"It has been proposed that we change our celebration of the new year to the day after the bombs fell. No change will occur to the actual Calendar, other than it will change our year back to 0, so we will always remember exactly when our world was changed. I ask to approve this measure by Unanimous Consent." she said as the timer began. Nearly everyone held their breath as they considered it, and realized it would be a fitting and to an Era as they moved far away from the historical norms.

After the minute passed the screen turned green, however none of them reacted as they were still thinking about it. Stacy was the first to react, and shook her head as she looked at the screen.

"Thank you all, the measure has passed. Let it be known far and wide that we are restarting our calendar year, and it shall now be set to 0. The New Year shall be celebrated from this year forward on the 15th of January. Let us take a one hour recess before we reconvene so we may have a chance to gather our thoughts." she said slamming her gavel as the hall cleared.

Lincoln chatted with Stacy about her family while he waited for the Joint Chiefs to arrive, and she was somewhat emotional as he came up and gave her a hug. He held her in his arms while she cried for a minute, shedding the first tears for her family since the bombs had dropped.

She finally pulled away from him, stopping his arms from letting her go so she could look at him. "Thank you, I did not realize how much I had actually been holding in. It is hard to believe that it has been months since the bombs fell, and we have not even held a memorial service." she said making him smile.

"Trust me, we will do that officially when the time is right. I was thinking on the one year anniversary, and we make it an annual event. However it will not be the type of remembrance most people will be expecting." he told her making her smile.

"Anything would be better than nothing in the long run." she said as Emily ran into the office.

"Sir, the Mexican Federal Army has used artillery to attack one of our patrols. Heavy casualties have been reported, and the artillery squad has been destroyed by a drone missile attack." she reported making both of them angry.

"Order the attack against those 5 Battalions. Once they are destroyed In

want to know where they came from, and we will be destroying their bases as well. Effective immediately we are at a state of War with the Mexican Nation." he ordered as the Joint Chiefs entered.