The promised update - even if it's a day late
May 17th, 1936
Roosevelt - "It's good to have you back, Douglas, Malin."
Craig(Head of Army) - "Good to be back, Mr. President"
Richardson -"General MacArthur, General Craig. Our last meeting left off right before the Guardian Offensives."
MacArthur(Chief of Staff) - "Right then, let's see about this."
Craig - "These offensives were all resounding successes - over the next few weeks we drove deep into the Confederate heartland. We also launched offensives in the west to drive the Confederates from their encircled positions in Missouri and Kansas."
MacArthur - "However, our men were unable to close the pocket at that time. Later, however -"
Roosevelt - "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Douglas. Keep in chronological order - my feeble old mind needs it arranged as such."
All - <laughter>
MacArthur - "All right, Mr. President, have it your way. General Richardson's DC Command was pressing into Charleston at this point-"
Craig - "And General Patton was pushing forward with his 'Drive to the Mississippi', applying horrendous pressure against the Rebs in Tennessee."
MacArthur - "General Marshall was able to drive the Confederates out of Atlanta with fairly minimal casualties, on the whole. Atlanta was a major CSA rail hub, and its loss was practically irrecoverable to the Confederates."
MacArthur - "Fairly soon afterwards the Springfield Pocket was closed. That effectively ended any major action out West until the advance into Texas."
Craig - "My forces quickly secured Lubbock after that - the war in the west effectively ended then and there."
Roosevelt - "Excellent! How strong do you gauge remaining CSA resistance in the region?"
Craig - "Palpable, but not enough to turn the tide. That's why I feel comfortable returning to Washington."
Roosevelt - "Alright then - How did things go further east?"
MacArthur - "My forces reached the Gulf of Mexico five days ago. The CSA is by now split in two and unable to function as an effective military machine."
Hull - Also, on May 14th the Germans annexed the Empire of Denmark. This is a bad sign. The Germans can now throw most to all of their weight against the French - it's crucial that we step up our plans to reinforce them, now that the Confederates are retreating so rapidly."
Roosevelt - "Agreed. We can start really shipping out Canadian and Quebecois troops to France within a month - probably sooner, all told."
Hull - "I agree. Now, After Denmark fell, the Japanese withdrew from the London-Tokyo Axis."
Hull - "We believe that this is a measure designed to make us less suspicious of the Axis. Naturally, we don't buy it for a minute - the Japanese will jump right back on board if the British go after us."
Roosevelt - "This is an interesting development. With the elections coming up in November, I could use this on the stump to gain votes. 'The Japanese fear America under my administration' . . . hmm. Anyway."
Craig - "Our forces fully occupied the territory of the nation of Deseret yesterday morning. The parliament of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints has been declared an illegal assembly and reconstruction in the state of Utah is currently being planned."
Roosevelt - "This is truly wonderful news! The return of Utah to the United States is truly a cause for celebration!"
Craig - "This is the military situation as of this morning, Mr. President:"
Roosevelt - "Good. Maybe this war can end soon . . ."
Messenger - "Mr. President!"
Roosevelt - "What is it, man?"
Messenger - "This just came in from General Patton in Alabama. He accepted on behalf of the United States government."
Roosevelt - "WHAT did he accept? He'll be very sorry if he accepted a white peace . . . oh dear God!"
MacArthur - "What happened, Mr. Presi-"
Roosevelt was already out the door, waving the telegram he had been handed like a Stars and Stripes was waved on the battlefield. His cabinet followed at a rush anxious to hear Roosevelt's news.