The Revolution Came

Chapter 31: Talk

August 21, 1935

Ken Drick leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a rare moment of relief. The victory at Fort San Pedro had been decisive, a turning point in their struggle against the British and their hold over the West Philippine Sea. The coalition of Asian nations, once tentative and fragile, had emerged from the meeting stronger, more determined to root out the Imperialist movement that threatened their hard-fought progress.

For the first time in months, he felt the weight on his shoulders ease, even if only slightly.

That relief was short-lived.

A letter from General Brooker sat on his desk, its contents searing into his mind as he read it.

His hands clenched the paper tightly. Horror gave way to disbelief.

The soldiers- our soldiers- had committed atrocities on the field. Those from the Southern Provinces had abused their power, their unchecked aggression staining the very ideals they fought to protect.

Ken Drick slowly removed his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exhaled a sharp breath. Frustration, disappointment, and anger all swirled within him.

The North and South had walked a fragile line, keeping their uneasy peace for the sake of unity. If Congress got hold of this, if the wrong people used it to their advantage...

The wounds of the past could be reopened. The delicate balance could shatter.

He couldn't allow that to happen.

Setting the letter down, he reached for his pen. The cabinet needed to convene immediately. This issue demanded a swift, decisive response. Not just damage control, but a fundamental change to ensure this never happened again.

A war had been won, but another battle loomed on the horizon—one that threatened the very foundation of their nation.

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The meeting room was filled with the secretaries he had appointed. Many of them were men he trusted during the revolution, now key figures in shaping the nation's future. As always, each carried their ambitions and political inclinations, yet among them, one stood out the most.

Ken Drick turned his attention to Cody, his old friend and comrade since the first phase of the Revolution, the man who now presided over the War Department. Cody had been grappling with the numerous controversies surrounding the Navy, doing his best to keep the institution from collapsing under the weight of past mistakes. But today, his silence spoke volumes.

Ken Drick exhaled, gripping the letter from General Karl Brooker in his hand. The room was still as the secretaries observed him. They knew Brooker would not write to the president unless the situation was dire.

"I have called you all today because of a letter I have received from General Karl Brooker," Ken Drick began, lifting the letter. The tension in the room deepened. "He has urged us to take immediate action regarding slavery within our country. According to his reports, Southern soldiers have been abusing their power, forcibly pushing free Black men and women into slavery."

Gasps and murmurs filled the room. Some of the secretaries wore expressions of horror. Others exchanged whispers, gauging each other's reactions. The issue was more than just a moral or legal failure, it threatened to expose internal instability to the League of Southeast Asia, which had formed in the wake of the recent naval victory against the British. Continued membership in the League depended on presenting a united, progressive front.

Ken Drick turned to the Secretary of State. "Secretary Newhiskey, since this matter concerns both our domestic and foreign policy, I'd like you to address it."