The Argo Goes West

119, Apple of Discord, part 1

"You don't care that your men have been treated so cruelly!"

Clay Roberts became enraged and blamed Captain Harris.

"I feel sorry for them," replied Captain Harris calmly. "But they should have been prepared for it when they volunteered for the expedition."

"Don't be silly!" Clay Roberts yelled, eyes wide in anger. "I know you love that woman. In other words, you care more about her than your subordinates, eh?"

Captain Harris answered after a dry cough. "Ordinarily, you should be court-martialed for how you talk to your superiors, but I'm going to let it pass this time."

"Screw you!!"

Clay Roberts saw Theodore Roosevelt. He expected the Vice President's support. But Roosevelt turned a blind eye.

Clay Roberts said to Captain Harris. "I can't talk to you anymore." He gave a desperate salute, then turned around and walked out of the room.

Clay Roberts was smoking on the ground floor when Miss Craig came downstairs looking worried.

"Clay, are you okay?"

"I am not OK."

It was the first time Miss Craig had seen Clay Roberts, who usually made a nice joke, look so angry. Miss Craig only nodded lightly so as not to provoke him.

Roberts took a deep breath of smoke into his chest, let it out for a long time, and said to Miss Craig.

"Would you ask your boss to do it for you?"

"You should ask him directly instead of me intervening."

Miss Craig gave her secretary-like demeanor.

"I will."

"I'm going to bring my boss right now."

Theodore Roosevelt came down from the second floor, and Roberts dumped his cigarette on the floor and crushed it with his boot.

"I think Mr. Harris is unfit to be captain," Roberts said bluntly. "He doesn't know the difference between his public and private life. I demand his immediate dismissal."

Roberts didn't ask him to appoint himself captain instead. If Roosevelt himself said he would act as captain, he had no objections.

But Theodore Roosevelt shook his head. "I can not do that."

"Why?" Roberts asked. "Are you saying you won't interfere in military affairs?"

"No, because the United States will not yield to any threat from its enemies."

Miss Craig said nothing, just staring at Roberts. Roberts' face was bright red and his right fist was trembling. He managed to control himself. If Miss Craig said anything, Roberts' emotional and rational balance would be thrown off and her boss could be harmed. She didn't think Roosevelt would continue to get hurt, but she worried that Roberts would face a heavy sentence in a court-martial for assaulting the Vice President.

However, her worries were unfounded.

Clay Roberts bowed and left.

Theodore Roosevelt turned around as if nothing had happened and went up the stairs. Miss Craig also followed her boss.

Theodore Roosevelt, Captain Danny Harris, and Hector Jackson move from Helen's room to the study and begin discussing the future.

"What do you think Carter will do when the request is denied?" Roosevelt asked.

"I think they will attack the town," replied Captain Harris.

"What kind of attack?"

"Possibly, I think it will shoot flaming arrows."

"Fortunately, the town is fed by three rivers, and water is plentiful," said Hector Jackson. "Just in case, we will store enough water to prepare for an emergency fire."

"Yeah," Roosevelt nodded.

"Basically defend the town," Harris said. "If I have a chance, I would like to go on the offensive with the Argo."

"Of course," Roosevelt nodded approvingly at Captain Harris' remark.

After Captain Harris, Hector Jackson attempted to leave the room. Theodore Roosevelt stopped him.

"Mr. Jackson, why are you the acting mayor instead of the mayor?"

"Because I was not elected," Hector Jackson replied. "It was a state of emergency, not even an election."

"I see." Roosevelt smiled wryly. "But no one will try to impeach."

"No."

"Then, in effect, you've been trusted by the public."

"So far, yes. But I don't think that will be the case in the future."